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NTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA 1781.
An exact Reprint of Six rare Pamphlets on the
ClINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
with very numerous important
UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT NOTES
By SIR HENRY CLINTON K.B.
And the Omitted and hitherto Unpublished portions
of the Letters in their Appendixes added from the
ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS
With a SUPPLEMENT containing
Extracts from the Journals of the House of Lords. .
A French translation of papers laid before
the House
And a CATALOGUE
of the Additional Correspondence of Clinton and
of Cornwallis, in 1780-81 : about 3456 papers relating
to the Controversy or bearing on
Affairs in America
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL I
Compiled, collated, and edited
(with biographical notices in a copious index,)
by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEVENS
LONDON : 4 TRAFALGAR SQUARE, CHARING CROSS
1888
LIBRARY
Copyrighted according to Act of Congress in. the year 1887 by
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEVENS of Vermont,
Temporarily residing in London, England.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.
ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . pp. vi
INTRODUCTION" . . . . . . . . . . „ vii to xxix
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE . . . . „ i to 58
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER . . . . . . ,, 59 to 94
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER .. .. „ 95 to 132
CORRESPONDENCE OF CLINTON & CORNWALLIS. . „ 133 to 136
THEMISTOCLES' REPLY TO NARRATIVE .. .. „ 137 to 172
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY .. .. „ 173 to 206
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE, 17 May 1780
to 31 May 1781 „ 207 to 507
ABBREVIATIONS.
AT,
ALCALA
ALS
ARC
BM
CP
DO
EGA
ELS
ERNad
ERTC
ERTpg
FEH
FEU
FG
FM
GW
HO
HL
HSR
LS
MEMS
AUTOGRAPH LETTER.
ARCHIVO GENERAL CENTRAL, ALCALA DE HENARES.
AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 4 VOLS.
BRITISH MUSEUM, HALDIMAND COLLECTION.
NARRATIVE OF CLINTON'S CO-OPERATION WITH SIR PETER
PARKER AND VICE-ADMIRAL ARBUTHNOT. PRINTED.
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 6 VOLS.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, CAMBRIDGE, AUCKLAND MANUSCRIPTS.
SHELBURNE MANUSCRIPTS IN LANSDOWNE HOUSE.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, ADMIRALTY RECORDS, ADMIRALS'
DISPATCHES.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, BOARD OF TRADE, CANADA.
RECORD OFFICE, BOARD OF TRADE, PLANTATIONS GENERAL.
ARCHIVES DBS AFFAIRES ETRANGERES, HOLLANDE.
ARCHIVES DBS AFFAIRES ETRANGERES, ETATS-UNIS.
ARCHIVES DU MINISTERS DE LA GUERRE.
ARCHIVES DE LA MARINE.
WRITINGS OF GEO. WASHINGTON. BY J. SPARKS.
LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
RIJKS ARCHIEF TE 's GRAVENHAGE, SECRETE RESOLUT1EN.
LETTER SIGNED.
MEMORANDUMS RE TREATMENT OF THE ARMY RESPECTING
PLUNDER. PRINTED 1794.
PA PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE OF ENGLAND, AMERICA AND WEST
INDIES SERIES.
RI ROYAL INSTITUTION.
RODNEY LETTERS FROM G. B. RODNEY TO H.M.'s MINISTERS, &C., 1/84.
SAC SACKVILLE MANUSCRIPTS IN DRAYTON HOUSE.
SIMANCAS ARCHIVO GENERAL DE REINO, SIMANCAS.
SSI ARCHIVO GENERAL DE INDIAS, SEVILLE.
INTRODUCTION
These two volumes relating to the military contro
versy between Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis
will be found a valuable contribution to the history
of the American campaign of 1781, by which the
independence of the United States was virtually
secured. They comprise : —
1 . Reprints of five exceedingly rare pamphlets on
the Clinton-Cornwallis Controversy, published in Lon
don in 1 783, and a sixth with the official correspondence
between these commanders, privately printed at New
York in 1781. These six pamphlets are of such rarity
that only one library, that of the Department of
State at Washington, possesses all of them, and of
the ' PARTING WORD ' no other copy is known. All
were purchased at the auction sales of two portions of
Sir Henry Clinton's library in 1882 and 1884.
2. Innumerable important and hitherto unpublished
Manuscript Notes made by Sir Henry Clinton in many
separate copies of the pamphlets and in other books.
3. The full text of the omitted portions of the one
hundred and eighty-three documents in the six pam
phlets, now for the first time published, en tire whenever
possible, from the manuscripts in the Public Record
Office, the Royal Institution, the House of Lords,
the bureaux des Affaires Etrangeres, de la Marine,
and de la Guerre, Paris, and in the private collections
of the Marquis of Lansdowne, Mrs. Stopford Sackville,
and Lord Auckland.
4. A supplement containing : — a. Extracts from the
Journals of the House of Lords from 27 Nov. 1781,
to 6 March 1782. b. The preface to a surreptitious
viii INTRODUCTION
French translation of the official correspondence laid
before the House of Lords, with a list of the papers
published therein, c. A Catalogue of the official cor
respondence of Clinton and of Cornwallis in 1780
and 1781, numbering about 3456 papers, more or less
relating to their controversy, and all bearing upon
affairs in America.
Before proceeding to a bibliographical description
of the pamphlets, it will be convenient to give a very
brief sketch of the campaign of 1 780-81, in order that
the points at issue betweeen Clinton and Cornwallis
may be distinctly apprehended.
Sir Henry Clinton had been commander in chief
of the British forces in America since 8 May 1778.
His first act had been to evacuate Philadelphia, and
concentrate his forces at New York, and he had after
wards mainly carried on the war by predatory expedi
tions, which had always been successful, but which
could not possibly be attended by decisive results.
Cornwallis had been so dissatisfied with this policy
that shortly after Clinton's appointment he had sent
in his resignation, which the King refused to accept.
He had then returned to England on account of the
illness of his wife, and arrived again at New York in
July 1 779, as secon(l i*1 command, and provided with a
commission entitling him to succeed Clinton in the
event of the latter's death or incapacity. He now
urged his views more strongly, and in 1 780 Clinton
consented to invade the Southern colonies. Charles-
town was taken May n. Clinton then returned
to New York, leaving Cornwallis in command.
The latter maintained his ground until January,
1781, when he determined to march northward
into Virginia, hoping to effect a junction with
Clinton on the Chesapeake, and subdue the State.
After various turns of fortune he successfully effected
his junction at Petersburgh May 20 with a detach
ment of Clinton's army under Arnold, the command
having again devolved on him by the death of General
INTRODUCTION ix
Phillips May 13. Cornwallis still found himself too
weak to attempt anything of importance. He urged
the evacuation of New York, and the concentration
of the entire British army in Virginia, to which Clinton
would not listen. On August 2 he established himself
atYorktown, was invested there in September by Wash
ington, who had received large French reinforcements,
and surrendered on October 1 9, exactly six years and a
half after the first blood shed in the war by the skirmish
at Lexington. On the very same day Clinton sailed
from New York with seven thousand men to relieve
him, and arrived at the Chesapeake on October 24, to
find himself too late.
Such a series of transactions evidently opens the
way for abundant controversy and recrimination
between the officers concerned. Was Cornwallis's
march through the Carolinas and Virginia undertaken
with Sir Henry Clinton's approbation or consent ?
Upon his arrival in the Chesapeake, ought Clinton to
have strongly reinforced him, even at the cost of aban
doning New York ? or to have withdrawn his forces
while there was time ? or, as he actually did, to have
awaited events ? Was the unfortunate selection of
York Town as headquarters the fault of Cornwallis ?
or was he constrained by Clinton's instructions to
occupy and fortify a good harbour ? Could the de
fence have been better conducted ? and did Clinton
use all possible expedition and diligence in coming to
Cornwallis's relief? These were the questions chiefly
agitated in the pamphlets of which I have now to
give a bibliographical account.
They are as follows.
I . " NARRATIVE of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clin
ton, K.B. relative to his Conduct during part of his
command of the King's Troops in North America ;
Particularly to that which respects the unfortunate
Issue of the Campaign in 1 78 1 . With an Appendix,
containing Copies and Extracts of those Parts of
his Correspondence with Lord George Germain,
x INTRODUCTION
Earl Cornwallis, Rear Admiral Graves, &c.
\Vhicharereferred to therein. London: Printed
for J. Debrett, (successor to Mr. Almon) opposite
Burlington-house, Piccadilly, 1 783." Svo. Half title,
title and ^.115, Slip of Errata.
Six editions of the NARRATIVE were issued in 1783,
a seventh edition in 1 785, and a reprint limited to 200
copies 8°, 75, 4°, and 25, f°, by John Campbell,
Philadelphia, 1865.
The NAREATIVE was first published in January 1783.
Earl Cornwallis received a copy on January 15.
The Monthly Review for January 1783 p. 89 gives
this notice: — " It had been happy for this country [we
are to write now in the preterpluperfect tense], that the conduct of our
commanders had been so clear and decisive as to save them the trouble
of penning narratives and defences. Ill success is the parent of accusa
tion, exculpation, and recrimination ; and in this detail Sir Henry
Clinton acquits himself of all share in Lord Cornwallis's misfortune ;
leaving that general to answer for misconceptions of the orders sent
him, and for the choice of the post which he was reduced to surrender.
A counter representation may probably follow from the other side ;
and such is all the satisfaction we have, and are likely to. have, for the
loss of America ! "
The Gentleman's Magazine February 1783 p. 147
says of the Narrative : — " Painful is the detail of
such a losing game as our American warfare. It is like tearing open
a wound never to be healed. The principal view of the late com-
mander-in-chief, like that of his predecessor, is to exculpate himself.
For that purpose ' he contends, that a desultory war in Virginia, the
taking possession of the posts of York and Gloucester (at least with
out objection), the undertaking operations in the Chesapeak, without
having a naval superiority, &c. were measures far from being advised,
always disapproved by him.
"To the latter (he says), ' Perhaps alone are we to impute our late
misfortune (Lord Cornwallis's) in that quarter.' — An impartial reader,
on perusing this Narrative, will hardly think that Sir Henry Clinton
has exculpated himself from directing the Earl to take post at York
and Gloucester. — His Lordship's Answer will be noticed in p. 155."
2. "AN ANSWER to that part of the Narrative of Lieu
tenant General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. Which
relates to the Conduct of Lieutenant General Earl
Cornwallis, during the Campaign in North America,
INTRODUCTION xi
in the year 1781. By Earl Cornwallis. London:
Printed for J. Debrett, (Successor to Mr. Alrnon,)
opposite BurlingtonHouse,Piccadilly,M.DCC.LXXXiii."
&vo. title, pp. xm.'y "Contents" 3 leaves, pp. 260,
Slip of Errata. An edition of 200 copies 8°, 75, 4°,
and 25, f°, was reprinted in Philadelphia, 1866.
The Gentleman's Magazine February 1783 p. 155
gives this notice of the ANSWER : — " EARL CORNWALLIS
has made as gallant a defence here as he did at York Town,
with this material difference : he was there obliged to surrender
an indefensible post to the far superior forces of his enemies ; but
in this entrenchment, we think, he has been able to repulse the
warm attacks of his commander in chief. In short, from an im
partial perusal of the correspondence here exhibited, we are clearly of
opinion (to adopt his Lordship's words in his Introduction) ' that our
failure in North Carolina was not occasioned by our want of force to
protect the rising of our friends, but by their timidity, and unwilling
ness to take an active and useful part ; — that the move to Wilming
ton was rendered necessary from the distresses of the troops, and the
sufferings of the numerous sick and wounded ; — that the march into
Virginia was undertaken for urgent reasons, which would not admit
of his waiting for the approbation of the commander in chief ; — that
he did not establish the station in Virginia, but only reinforce it ; —
that he occupied the posts of York and Gloucester, and was induced
to remain in them by the prospect of relief uniformly held out to him
by the commander in chief; — and that, during the considerable
interval between his arrival at Petersburgh, and that of the French
fleet in the Chesapeak, his corps was completely at the disposal of Sir
Henry Clinton, either to be withdrawn, or employed in the Upper
Chesapeak, or sent back to the Carolinas ; and, consequently, that his
Lordship's conduct and opinions were not the causes of the catas
trophe which terminated the unfortunate campaign of 1781.' — That
Sir H. Clinton is blameable, does not, however necessarily follow.
Various other causes, which might be assigned out, and may be easily
collected from this correspondence, contributed to the failure of our
arms in that inauspicious war ; in which we constantly seem, under
every commander, however successful on other occasions, to have
swum, as it were, against the stream. The stars in their courses
f ought against Sisera. One of these was the false hopes continually
held forth by pretended or lukewarm friends. * I have experienced
the distresses and dangers (says Lord Cornwallis from Wilmington)
of marching some hundreds of miles in a country chiefly hostile, with
out one active or useful friend.' In consequence of this his brilliant
successes at Camden and Guildford were as unproductive and indeed
ruinous as defeats. After the latter he says, l Many of the inhabi
tants rode into camp, shook me by the hand, said they were glad to
see us, and to hear that we had beat Greene, and then rode home
xii INTRODUCTION
again.' — Another cause seems to have been the want of harmony and
concurrence in the sea and land departments. ' Our Admiral,' says
Sir Henry Clinton, ' is grown, if possible, more impracticable than
ever : ' and afterwards he laments the want of * a co-operating naval
chief,' mentions his 'strange conduct,' &c. When the General
wanted him to escort troops to the Chesapeak, he was determined,
it seems, to cruize off Nantucket, thus reminding us of what
Shakespeare's Richard the Third says of his * cold friends ' :
—'What do they in the North,
' When they should serve their sovereign in the West ? '
The sailing of another convoy with stores, &c. he stopped, 'without
assigning any reason,' &c. &c. A third, and perhaps principal, cause
of failure was the want of a naval superiority, which Sir H. Clinton
had reason to expect, and was promised by the minister. Thus, in
one letter, he says, ' Sir Geo. Rodney will of course follow De
Grasse hither : ' in another, < I learn, from the minister, that three
battalions are to accompany Sir Geo. Rodney, in case De Grasse
comes on this coast.' Instead of which, Sir George went home, and
detached Sir Samuel Hood with only fourteen ships, and two battalions,
one of them serving as marines. Had he followed De Grasse (as ex
pected) with his whole force, the disgraceful affair off the Chesapeak,
and the consequent surrender at York-Town, would probably have
been prevented. Adm. Digby also was expected in force. Instead of
which, he brought only three ships, and that not till Sept. 24. — The
second sailing of the fleet too was strangely delayed. 'There is
every reason,' says Sir Henry Clinton, ' to hope we start from hence
the $th October.1 Afterwards, ' I have reason to hope, from the
assurances given me by Admiral Graves, that we may pass the bar by
the 1 2th of October.' Lord Cornwallis did not capitulate tillifie I'jth.
But the fleet did not sail till the igth. Too mean an opinion of the
American prowess seems also to have prejudiced the commander in
chief. Thus he speaks of ' a small body of ill-armed peasantry, full
as spiritless as the militia of the Southern provinces.' But Lord
Cornwallis, who knew more of those provinces, aptly replies, ' The
list of British officers and soldiers killed and wounded by them since
last June proves but too fatally that they are not wholly contemptible.'
Other causes might be mentioned, independent of any misconduct in
the Generals. And on the whole, of Earl Cornwallis, in whose
sensibility, as a soldier and a man, we most sincerely sympathise, and
of whose integrity and abilities we have a just opinion, we are dis
posed to say, with Virgil's Hector,
Si Pergama dextrd
Defendi possent, etiam hoc defensafuissent."
The ANSWER is also noticed in the Monthly Eeview
March 1783 p. 266 as follows :— " From the tendency
of Sir Henry Clinton's relation of facts, the appear
ance of an exculpatory state of transactions was naturally to
be expected ; the claim of which to the public attention, is now,
INTRODUCTION xiii
alas ! merely on private considerations, that characters may, if
possible, be fairly estimated. This answer consists of the chain of
correspondence between the two Commanders, during the campaign
referred to; which, as Lord Cornwallis has summed up the whole in
his Introduction, is to shew, l that our failure in North Carolina, was
not occasioned by our want of force to protect the rising of our
friends, but by their timidity, and unwillingness to take an active and
useful part, that the move to Wilmington was rendered necessary
from the distresses of the troops, and the sufferings of the numerous
sick and wounded, that the march into Virginia was undertaken for
urgent reasons, which could not admit of my waiting for the approba
tion of the Commander in Chief, — that I did not establish the station
in Virginia, but only reinforce it, — that I occupied the posts of York
and Gloucester by order ; and was induced to remain in them by the
prospect of relief, uniformly held out to me by the Commander in
Chief, — and that, during the considerable interval between my arrival
at Petersburgh, and that of the French fleet in the Chesapeak, my
corps was completely at the disposal of Sir Henry Clinton, either to
be withdrawn, or employed in the Upper Chesapeak, or sent back to
the Carolinas, — and consequently, that my conduct and opinions were
not the cause of the catastrophe which terminated the unfortunate
campaign of 1781.'
u So far from pretending to decide on the complicated circumstances
of difference between these noble Commanders, we shall leave them to
the judgment of their military Peers, with only this remark ; that the
vicissitudes attending the joint operation of detached armies, will fre
quently furnish occasions for ill-humour, that would never have discom
posed their minds had their endeavours been crowned with success."
3. " OBSERVATIONS on some parts of the Answer of Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton's Narrative. By
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. To
which is added an Appendix ; containing Extracts
of Letters and other Papers, to which reference is
necessary. London : Printed for J. Debrett, (Suc
cessor to Mr. Almon,) opposite Burlington House,
Piccadilly. M.DCC.LXXXIII." Svo. Half-title, title,
pp. 35 & 1 1 3 and folding sheet " View of the Strength
of the two Armies." A reprint limited to 200 copies
8°, 75, 4°, and 25, f °, was issued by John Camp
bell, Philadelphia, 1866.
The Monthly Review April 1783 p. 362 contains
this notice of the OBSERVATIONS : — " After much
rejoinder, about the times of sending orders, re
ceiving dispatches, producing and withholding letters, &c.
xiv INTRODUCTION
which the parties concerned will understand much better than any of
their readers ; Sir Henry Clinton repeats that Lord Cornwallis mis
conceived his orders and intentions ; that * it will appear from the
correspondence, that his Lordship's discretionary powers were
unlimited from the first moment of his taking charge of a separate
command : and it will, I believe, be admitted, that his lordship acted
in most cases as if he considered them as such.' Upon this ground,
Sir Henry declares, 1 1 will frankly own that I ever disapproved of an
attempt to conquer Virginia, before the Carolinas were absolutely
restored. However, when I saw that Lord Cornwallis had forced
himself upon me in that province, I left him at liberty to act there as
he judged best.' He closes these observations with the following
paragraph : ' I shall now beg leave to conclude with an opinion, which
I presume is deducible from the foregoing (I trust candid) review of
circumstances : which is, that Lord Cornwallis's conduct and opinions,
if they were not the immediate causes, may be adjudged to have at
least contributed to bring on the fatal catastrophe which terminated
the unfortunate campaign of 1781.'
" It is to be hoped, an altercation, from which the Public have
nothing to hope, will not be any longer continued."
The Gentleman's Magazine April 1783 p. 334 says
of the OBSERVATIONS : — "The former publications
of these brave but unsuccessful warriors were
reviewed by us in pp. 147 and 155. In this Sir H. Clinton com
plains of three of his letters being with-held from the House of
Lords and the publick, whilst those to which they were answers
were long suffered to operate to his prejudice, and also of the
publication of his secret and most private letter to Gen. Phillips, dated
April 30. The want of co-operation, which Lord Cornwallis ex
perienced from the Loyalists after the victory of Guildf ord, Sir Henry
attributes to their past sufferings and disappointments, and to i the
melancholy scene his Lordship's camp, encumbered with a long train
of sick and wounded, exhibited to their view.' Lord C's l next object,'
he thinks, * should have been to secure South Carolina.'' And this,
he says, was his Lordship's own opinion, expressed in a letter of Dec.
12, 1780. In consequence, Sir Henry reprobates the march to Wil
mington from Cross Creek, when Camden and South Carolina were so
much nearer ; and even, when at Wilmington, the not retiring to
Charles-Town, by Lockwood's Folly and the Waggamaw, which, he
insists was practicable. And thus, he adds, Lord 0. ' would have
saved South Carolina, and avoided the fatal catastrophe in the
Chesapeak.' Lord C's occupying York and Gloucester, it is also here
asserted, 'was entirely at his own motion and choice,' and not
justified by his instructions. — We shall wave entering farther in to this
now fruitless and unavailing controversy, than to add, that Sir H.
Clinton's deduction from the whole is, * that Lord Cornwallis's con-
' duct and opinions, if they were not the immediate causes, may be
* adjudged to have at least contributed to bring on the fatal
INTRODUCTION xv
* catastrophe which terminated the unfortunate campaign of 1781;'
and to observe, that nothing is more easy, and at the same time more
fallacious, than opinions formed by or from events."
4. " CORRESPONDENCE between His Excellency General
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B/and Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis." [New York 1781] 8vo. pp. 70.
In some copies a leaf is inserted between pages 54 and
55 and in some copies pages 71 to 76 are added by
insertion. This CORRESPONDENCE has no imprint.
Copies of it are in several Libraries, but I find no
notices or reviews.
5. "A REPLY to Sir Henry Clinton's Narrative. Wherein
his numerous errors are pointed out, and the conduct
of Lord Cornwallis fully vindicated from all asper
sion: including the whole of the Public and Secret
Correspondence, between Lord George Germain, Sir
Henry Clinton, and his Lordship ; as also Intercepted
Letters from General Washington. Audi alteram
partem . . Non fumum vendo, nee fucum facio.
London : Printed for R. Faulder, New Bond Street,
and J. Debrett, Piccadilly. MDCCLXXXIII." Svo pp.
109. [Signed at p. 61 " Themistocles," and so
catalogued in the British Museum.] The author
ship appears to be unknown ; it was certainly un
known to Sir H. Clinton, as evinced by his annota
tions. A second edition was issued in 1783.
The Monthly Review February 1783 p. 183 thus
notices the REPLY : — " In this anonymous Reply, Lord
Cornwallis is vindicated from the misconception of orders, and discre
tionary conduct, stated in Sir Henry Clinton's narrative ; and Sir Henry is
charged withholding out delusive promises of succour to his Lordship.
It is not always easy, after reading both sides, in such complicated
transactions, clearly to determine where the blame rests ; but it is easy
to see who is best acquainted with decency ; and we cannot avoid
remarking, that Sir H. C. relates his story in a plain modest stile,
that gives dignity to his narrative : whereas every page in this reply
is debased with such illiberal epithets and sarcastic turns of expression,
as (whatever may be the concealed writer's intentions) are very far
from doing any service to the cause he has undertaken."
6. " A PARTING WORD ; or, a Summary Review of
the Controversy between Sir Henry Clinton and
xvi INTRODUCTION
Earl Cornwallis. Occasioned by the Observations
lately published by that Gentleman on his Lord
ship's Answer. London : Printed for E. Faulder,
New Bond Street ; and J. Bew, Pater-noster Row.
31DCCLXXXIII." &VO.
I have not been able to find another copy of this
pamphlet in any Library, or any mention of it.
It is here reprinted from the Copy in the Library
of the Department of State at Washington.
In these six pamphlets and their appendixes there
are altogether 183 letters printed entirely or partially.
Many are repeated fully or in extracts in two or more
of the six pamphlets : and some of them, complete or
in excerpts, are printed in one or more of the following
three books, all of which contain many and copious
Manuscript Notes by Sir Henry Clinton hitherto un
published : —
7. " CORRESPONDANCE du Lord G. GERMAIN, avec
Les Generaux Clinton, Cornwallis & les Amiraux
dans la Station de I'Amerique, avec plusieurs lettres
interceptees du General Washington, du Marquis
de la Fayette & de M. de Barras, chef d'Escadre.
Traduit de 1'Anglois sur les originaux publics par
ordre de la Chambre des Pairs. Je ne sais ou je
vais; hu mains, faibles humains, Regions-nous notre
sort? Est-il entre nos mains? Irene de Voltaire.
Londres et Versailles, chez Poingot, 1 784." Sin.
Svo. pp. xm. and 304; two folding tables.
These papers were never published by order of the
House of Lords as stated on the title-page. The
active and intelligent collector of Secret Intelligence
for France was so ingenious as to get access to and
to copy, translate, and print many of the papers laid
on the Table of the House of Lords. This book was
probably printed by our Allies, the French, in 1 782 to in
fluence the Peace Negotiations going on in Paris. It is
not in the Library of Parliament, nor was I able
to find a copy in any Library in London till one was
very recently procured by the British Museum. Several
INTRODUCTION xvii
Libraries in America possess it. The State Library of
Berne has it. The copy containing Manuscript Notes
by Clinton, now in the Library of the Department of
State at Washington, has the above imprint, and a por
trait of Washington ; others bear the imprint Berne,
Chez la Nouvelle Societe Typographique, 1782.
8. " A HISTORY of the Campaigns of 1 780 and 1 78 1 , in
the Southern Provinces of North America. By Lieu
tenant Colonel TARLETON, Commandant of the late
British Legion. London: Printed for T. Cadell,
in the Strand. MDCCLXXXVH." Quarto. Title, Con
tents, pp. viii. and 518. With Maps and Plans.
Colonel Tarleton in his ' Campaigns ' lays the blame
on Lord Cornwallis, who in a letter to the Bishop of
Lichfield, dated Calcutta, Dec. 12, 1787, says with reference to that
work : " Tarleton's is a most malicious and false attack ; he knew and
approved the reasons for several of the measures which he now blames.
My not sending relief to Colonel Ferguson, although he was positively
ordered to retire, was entirely owing to Tarleton himself ; he pleaded
weakness from the remains of a fever, and refused to make the attempt,
although I used the most earnest entreaties ; I mention this as a proof,
amongst many others, of his candour."
9. "OBSERVATIONS on MR. STEDMAN'S History of the
American War. By Lieutenant General Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. London : Printed for J. Debrett,
opposite Burlington House, Piccadilly, 1 794." 'Quarto.
Title. Observations pp. i to 34. The title (reverse
Hank) and pages 33 and 34 form the wrapper to
eight quarto sheets pp. i to 32. Some copies were
issued with a two page Preface, i.and ii.,inserted with
wafers. Fifty copies were privately reprinted by F.
S. Hoffman for presentation, Philadelphia 1864, 4°-
This Preface reads : — u It has been a fashion
with many (owing to what cause I will not pretend
to say) to declare, that in losing America, we have neither
lost commerce, military character, or consequence. Tho' T had
differed in opinion respecting all these, I know full well that until
this country felt some dire misfortune, in consequence of the
loss of that, I should meet with few advocates for my opinion.
Alas ! has not that dire misfortune now befallen us ? Notwithstand
ing the zealous, officer-like, and successful exertions of our land and
sea chiefs, and their gallant navies and armies, these last are reduced
xviii INTRODUCTION
by sickness to a debility the more alarming, as it cannot, I fear,
diminish, but must increase. Had we possessed the continent of
America, our fleets and armies might have retired to its ports during
the hurricanes and sickly season, attended to their sick, recovered and
recruited both navy and army, and returned to the West-Indies with
the means of further exertion. Where have we now a healthy safe
port ? Halifax is almost as far as Europe ; while in the American
ports the tri-coloured flag flies triumphant, and scarcely a British
ship is to be seen except as capture. If appearances are so unpromising
now we are said to be in alliance with America, how it will happen,
should we unfortunately add them to the number of our enemies, I
need not predict. Altho' I had received my Sovereign's fullest ap
probation of my conduct during that American war, as will appear by
my correspondence with His Ministers, contained in my narrative, &c.
published in 1783, and in the following pamphlet, yet, considering
every person employed in so important a command as accountable at
all times for their conduct, I conceive myself called upon by a recent
publication, which has misstated material facts, whether from error,
or a desire of courting a late Governor General of India,* I will not
pretend to determine j but at a time when my services were actually
called for, and these more than insinuations may make an impression
on the public, it is my duty to refute them : I therefore submit the
following observations on Mr. Stedman's History of the American
War, to the candid and impartial public, who will, no doubt, give me
credit for my forbearance in not troubling them on such a subject
until forced into it by an unprovoked attack. H. C."
I have reproduced the pamphlets in their present
order because I think Sir Henry Clinton used them
in this order in making his MS. notes ; and it was
more convenient to begin with the Narrative.
If arranged chronologically the contents of these
two volumes would have run : —
Correspondence (New York, Dec., 1781). vol i. 133
Lords' Journals, Feb. and March, 1782. ii. 251
Correspondance du Ld. G.Germain, 1782. ii. 301
Narrative January 1783 i. i
Eeply 1783 i. 137
Answer 1783 i. 59
Observations 1783 i. 95
Parting Word 1783 i. 173
Chronological Correspondence vol i. 207 to ii. 250
Catalogue of Additional Correspondence ii. 321
* Some copies read courting the Marquis of Cornwallis on bis return from
India, and others courting A Govr General on his return from India. JB.F.S.
INTRODUCTION
XIX
In the next place, an account must be given of the
copious Manuscript Notes made by Sir Henry Clinton
in various copies of the above-mentioned publications.
Between 1783 and his death in 1795 ne tnus anno
tated no fewer than eighteen copies of the Narrative ;
four of the Answer ; six of the Observations ; eleven
of the Correspondence ; nine of the Observations on
Stedman ; and one copy each of the Reply, Parting
Word, Tarleton, and the surreptitious French
translation of the papers laid before the House
of Lords. The same note is often found in
several copies of the same pamphlet, and in other
pamphlets. Sir Henry would appear to have lent
these copies to persons interested in the Controversy ;
for on the half-title of the copy of the Narrative which
I have called the fifth, and marked e, is written
" With S. H. Clinton's Compliments to Capt. Duncan
this is the best Noted Narrative, June '86 ;" and other
copies appear to have been lent to Gen. McLean,
Major Taylor, and Colonel Goate. It is possible
that other annotated copies may have been lent, and
not returned: but this collection contains all that
came to light at the sale of Sir Henry Clinton's library.
All these were purchased by the Department of State
at Washington, where they now are.
It will be seen that it can have been no easy matter
to present in a clear and intelligible form documents
characterised by such repetition and intricacy. I have
now to explain the steps which I have adopted to
this end.
I have collected and collated all of Clinton's Manu
script Notes in the several copies of the six Contro
versial Pamphlets, and I have added such of his
Notes from the French translation of the House of
Lords papers, and from Tarleton, and Observations on
Stedman, as were made on any of the 183 letters
that are in the six pamphlets.
I have arbitrarily called the several copies of the
Narrative a b c d e etc., and the same with the other
xx INTRODUCTION
pamphlets ; and I have printed Clinton's Manuscript
Notes in double columns, and have numbered the
notes on each page for convenience in reference.
I have added to the number of the note the
indicating letter of the pamphlet that contains it.
When the same Manuscript Note is found in several
copies of any pamphlet I have indicated which of the
several copies a b c d e etc. contain it by adding the
arbitrary letters to the number of the note. Thus
note 5 on page 7, " Lord C's going to India," is
written in the eleven copies of the Narrative called
cfiklnopqrs.
In a few cases it has been convenient to use the
plus + mark in the pica text in conjunction with the
arbitrary letter calling for the first book, and to set
out only in the note all the copies containing the
same note, as on page 8, note 10 f+in the pica text and
lofiklmnopqrs in the note.
I have carefully followed ' copy,' but in my reprint
I have inserted head lines throughout the book, the
pagination of the original pamphlets in square brackets,
and I have interpolated superior figures and letters
calling for Clinton's Manuscript Notes, which are
always printed in two columns in bourgeois.
When the text calls for foot notes with * f J £c,
such foot notes are printed across the page and come
from the original pamphlets, but the words in italics are
modifications by me. For instance, on page 9 the
asterisk in the original edition calls for extracts of
letters which I have printed in full in the Chrono
logical Correspondence.
The limits of the extracts are indicated where
the letter itself is printed.
There were tables of errata in some of the pamphlets:
I have everywhere followed 'copy' as corrected by such
errata.
There were six editions of the Narrative issued in
1 783 and a seventh edition in 1 785, and perhaps more
than the editions already indicated of some of the
INTRODUCTION xxi
other pamphlets; hence there may be variations in
the text that I have not noted.
In the Appendixes to the Narrative, to the Answer,
to the Observations and the Reply, and in the Corres
pondence and the French translation of the Lords
papers, and sometimes elsewhere, I have given the
heading of the document as it is in the original
edition, and at the end of each title I have stated in
italics where the letter is here printed.
I have pnt the pagination of the original pamphlets
in square brackets in these title headings, for greater
convenience in referring to them.
I have in this manner preserved the sequence of the
pamphlets, and wherever the same letters are printed
in two or more of them I have, by putting all the
correspondence into one chronological arrangement,
avoided the necessity of printing any letter twice.
At the end of each letter I have given full particulars
of duplicates &c.
The next division of this compilation consists of
the Chronological Correspondence, comprising the
183 letters in the six pamphlets, completed, where
possible, from the original manuscripts existing in the
public and private archives already referred to. I have
carefully included the very numerous and sometimes
extensive portions omitted in the pamphlets, and have
indicated all additions. I have also indicated the pam
phlet or pamphlets in which each letter occurs, and the
text which 1 have followed. It has not been thought
necessary to reprint the numerous duplicates in extenso,
but all variations have been carefully noted in the mar
gins; and I have given the endorsements and other
memoranda found on the manuscripts. Clinton's Manu
script Notes on each of the 183 letters in the six pam
phlets and the other volumes annotated by him, are
here repeated in conjunction with the letter itself.
The Supplement consists of : —
I. Full extracts from the Journals of the House of
Lords from November 1 78 1 to March 1 782, in so far as
xxii INTRODUCTION
they relate to the operations of Clinton and Corn
wallis, vol. ii. p. 251.
II. The preface, in the original French text with
an English translation, of the very rare book " Corres-
pondance du Lord G. Germain," together with the
headings of the documents published in it, vol. ii. p.
301. This, it will be recollected, is a spurious pub
lication in so far as it professes to translate docu
ments published by authority of the House of Lords,
the House having authorised no such publication,
and the statement to the contrary on the title page
is a deliberate untruth. The documents themselves
are, nevertheless, perfectly genuine. Copies would
seem to have been obtained by some agent of the
French Government in England.
III. Catalogue of Additional Correspondence, vol.
ii. p. 321.
As above stated, the Chronological Correspondence
between Clinton and Cornwallis in the six pamphlets
contains 183 letters. Some are covering letters without
their enclosures, and some are enclosures without their
covering letters. These letters are distributed as
follows through the several pamphlets. — The NARRATIVE
Appendix contains Clinton's Correspondence with
Lord George Germain, Earl Cornwallis, Rear Admiral
Graves, &c. which is referred to in the Narrative.
The ANSWER contains Correspondence between Gen.
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B., Commander in Chief, and
Lieut. -Gen. Earl Cornwallis : — Relative i, to the Cam
paign in North Carolina; 2, to Earl Cornwallis's
March into Virginia ; 3, to the Operations in Vir
ginia ; 4, to occupying an Harbour for Line of Battle
Ships ; 5, to the Defence of York in Virginia ; and
6, Letters from Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, delivered at New York a month after Earl
Cornwallis's surrender. The OBSERVATIONS Appendix
contains Extracts of Letters and other Papers to
which reference is necessary. And the REPLY in
cludes the whole of the Public and Secret Correspon-
INTRODUCTION
xxin
dence between Lord George Germain, Sir Henry
Clinton and Earl Cornwallis, as also Intercepted
Letters from General Washington.
The CORRESPONDENCE between Clinton and Corn
wallis, privately printed New York 1781, seems
to suggest that the entire Correspondence was
then given; the NARRATIVE and OBSERVATIONS are
stated to contain the Correspondence to which
reference is necessary ; the ANSWER seems to cover
a much wider field; and the KEPLY definitely
states that it includes the whole Correspondence, &c.
Notwithstanding these statements I have found in
the European Archives., in the course of my search
for the original manuscripts of the 183 letters printed
in the six pamphlets, about 3456 additional letters to
and from Clinton and to and from Cornwallis with
enclosures, during the years 1 780 and 1781. All these
papers more or less touch on the subject of the Con
troversy, and all bear on affairs in America,
The Catalogue of this Additional Correspondence
forms part of the Supplement. I have attempted to
include in this Catalogue all letters written by
Clinton or Cornwallis and all letters written to
either of them in 1780 and 1781 with all enclosures
and sub-enclosures so as to chronologically indicate
the information and papers in the possession of the
respective authors.
In cataloguing the letters I have stated where each
of them is to be found, and if printed where printed.
The value of this mass of historical information, now
for the first time made accessible to the student, must
be obvious.
The contents of this Compilation and Supplement
afford materials to assist in tracing the true origin of,
and the growth and development of the strained
relations between Clinton and Cornwallis in this
Controversy, and to define the real responsibilities of
each of them and of the Ministers.
Earl Cornwallis, in writing to Lord Rawdon from
d
xxiv INTRODUCTION
Portsmouth, Virginia, 23 July 1781, had said " C. is
determined to throw all blame on me."
Corn wallis arrived at New York 19 Nov. 1781, and
met Clinton. The discussions were principally on : —
i, the policy of the March into Virginia ; 2, on whom
rested the responsibility of the Chesapeake affair ; and
3, on the alleged promises to Cornwallis of succour.
Cornwallis sailed from New York for England,
15 December 1781, on the ' Robust,' 3rd rate, 74 guns,
600 men, Capt. Phs. Cosby, convoying a fleet of 1 20
merchantmen. On Dec. 25 the Robust sprang a leak,
and made for the West Indies.
The Log of the Robust says: "Thursday 27 Dec.
fresh gales and hazey, made the Sig1 to bear up and
bore up and made the Greyhounds Sig1 to follow us
. . . pumps constantly going . . . 28 Dec. (a.m.), left
the Ship to Go on bd the Greyhound Lord Cornwallis.
. . . cheer'd him. . . . Bearings at Noon, Bermudas
61° W, Dist. 113 Leagues."
General Benedict Arnold accompanied Cornwallis,
and took charge of Clinton's dispatches to Lord
George Germain. It is curious to note parenthetically
that the ' Greyhound ' was chased by a French priva
teer and obliged to run into Penzance, so escaping
capture by our allies, the French.
Luzerne, the French Ambassador at Philadelphia,
wrote 9 Jan. 1782 to Castries, Minister of Marine,
that a Merchant fleet of 150 sail set out from New
York the 15th of last month, "it will probably
arrive in Europe before this letter. A part of the
vessels return in ballast according to custom, the
remainder are laden with tobacco and merchandise
from the islands, taken from prizes. A considerable
number of Americans, partisans of England, have taken
this opportunity of going over, the success in the Chesa
peake having deprived them of the hope of recovering
their confiscated possessions, and of being re-estab
lished in their own country by the superiority of the
English arms. This fleet is convoyed by the Robust
INTRODUCTION
XXV
of 74 guns and two frigates. The Robust is in such a
bad condition that it has been necessary to take out all
the guns but 12."
Castries, Paris, 24 Jan. 82, wrote to Hector, In-
tendant de la Marine at Brest : — " It appears that the
Convoy from N. York, escorted by the Robust has
been dispersed off the English coast, it is unfortunate
that we were not able to profit by it."
Isaac Corry, London, 22 Jan. 1782, wrote to Rt.
Hon. William Eden: — "Lord George is not yet formally
disembarassed of his office, but the thing is to happen :
he seems to cut not over graciously, & I believe
it will appear that the King thinks so: Carleton it
is concluded will immediately go out to America:
Lord Cornwallis is expected to arrive this morning in
town, & it is said will further as much as in his
power an enquiry into the plann & the conduct of
the southern campaign, in the former of which he
was not consulted — Sir Henry Clinton is hardly
spoken of — Lord Cornwallis very highly reported by
Dundass, Tarleton, Lake, the post at Yorktown seems
to have been in opposition to Lord C's opinions."
Two copies of the CORRESPONDENCE between Clinton
and Cornwallis, vol. i. 133, privately printed in America,
were sent to the Right Hon. William Eden, at that
time chief Secretary in Ireland.
Clinton, New York, 7 Dec. 1781, wrote to Eden: —
" You will have heard of our Misfortune in Chesa-
peak. . . I send you two pamphlets the CORRE
SPONDENCE with L.C. . . we are most unfortunate!
what can our Country now do ? Can you replace the
Veteran army we have lost, where are your allies?
the American M rs Conduct has been most un
accountable, his treatment of me without example.
Why did they not at first permit me to resign to
L. C s? They drove me to the wall by in
structions, & every sort of ill treatment, till June,
& in July the tone was altered, without my being
able to account for the one or the other. I was too
xxvi INTRODUCTION
late, & I was forced to the necessity of concluding
my letter when I was starting to attempt to succour
L.C. with telling the M r I should if I succeeded
resign the command to his Lordship. I should have
done so in June had I not reduced this place (at that
time threatned with a siege) to a garrison very feeble
indeed, nor have I ever repeated my wish to resign,
for tis probable long before I could obtain leave, we
shall have met our fates, good or bad. ... I doubt
you being able to read my scrawl, perhaps tis well you
do not, car je parle un pen trop a cceur ouvert"
The distribution of this COKRESPONDENCE by Sir
Henry Clinton presumably induced Earl Cornwallis
and his attached friend Lord George Germain to urge
a general enquiry in the House of Lords.
The House of Lords, 7 Feb. 1782, resolved "to
enquire into the causes of the great Loss which the
Nation has sustained by the Surrender of the whole
Army under the Command of Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis at York Town and Gloucester, in the
Province of Virginia, as Prisoners of War."
In February the House ordered to be laid on its table
and referred to the Committee of the whole House
Copies or Extracts of all Instructions or Orders from
any of His Majesty's Ministers to Lieutenant General
Sir Henry Clinton and Lieutenant General Earl Corn
wallis in the Years 1780 and 1781 ; all Correspond
ence between Sir Henry Clinton and the Earl Corn
wallis, touching the Operations of the Army under
the Command of the Earl Cornwallis, and particularly
relative to his Lordship's taking Post at York Town
and Gloucester, his remaining and fortifying himself
there, and the Expectation of Relief ; all Instructions
and Orders from the Admiralty to Admirals Rodney,
Parker,Graves and Arbuthnot, touching the Reinforce
ments intended to be sent to the Fleet in North
America in 1781 ; all Correspondence between any
of the Generals or Admirals employed in North
America or the West Indies and any of His Majesty's
INTRODUCTION xxvii
Ministers and the Secretary of the Admiralty touch
ing the giving succour to the Army under the Earl
Cornwallis 1781 ; a State of the different Corps em
ployed under Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis in
1781 ; and other papers.
The Committee of the whole House was in Session
on February 27 and 28 and on March i, 4 and 6.
As the proceedings are frequently referred to in
this Controversy and in Clinton's Notes, I have for
ready reference given full Extracts from the Journals
of the House of Lords of all particulars bearing upon
this subject, vol. ii. 251.
The Eight Hon. Welbore Ellis was, n Feb. 1782,
appointed Secretary of State for American Affairs
vice Lord George Germain, who was on that day
created Viscount Sackville of Drayton and Baron
Bolebrook. Viscount Sackville took the Oaths, 12
Feb., and was placed on the lower end of the Vis
counts' Bench. Lieutenant General Sir Guy Carleton
was appointed to succeed Sir Henry Clinton, as Com-
mander-in-Chief, 23 Feb. 1782. He arrived at New
York 5 May, and General Sir Henry Clinton left New
York 13 May, arriving in London 14 June.
Sir Henry Clinton had temporarily turned the com
mand over to Lieutenant-General Robertson, who
acted as Commander-in-Chief until the arrival of
Genl. Sir Guy Carleton.
On the 27th of March, 1782, Lord Shelburne
became Secretary of State for Home, Irish, and
Colonial Affairs, and relieved the Right Hon. Wel
bore Ellis. The separate office of Secretary of State
for America was not again filled.
Cornwallis's reception at home was far better than
usually falls to the lot of defeated generals. Neither
the government nor the nation blamed him for the
disaster that had overtaken his command : and in less
than two years he was pressed to accept the office of
Governor General of India, to which, after a year's
delay, he in 1 786 reluctantly consented. He returned
xxviii INTRODUCTION
to England in 1793, was made lord-lieutenant of
Ireland in 1798, was again appointed Governor
General of India in 1805, and died the same year at
Ghazapore. No public censure was passed on Clinton
either, and, according to his own account, which is
fully trustworthy, he had a very kind reception from
the King. He was not, however, again employed
in the field, nor did he receive any command until,
on the death of Sir Robert Boyd, he was made
Governor of Gibraltar, 2 July 1794 (gazetted 22),
at a salary of ^750 per annum, but remained in Eng
land until his death, 23 Dec. 1795. The Lieutenant
Governor, Lt. Gen. Charles O'Hara, was on the
same day appointed to succeed him, (gazetted 26).
The questions between Clinton and Cornwallis may
be left to the determination of the readers of this
collection, who are for the first time, provided
with the most complete materials to be obtained.
As regards their respective plans of campaign, it
may be said that each was right from his own
point of view. Clinton's was safe, and, so far as it
went, successful : but it did not go far. Cornwallis
was justified in his expressions to General Phillips :
" If our plan is defensive, mixed with desultory expe
ditions, let us quit the Carolinas and stick to our salt
pork at New York, sending now and then a detach
ment to steal tobacco." But his own bold and com
prehensive plan could only succeed if undertaken
with a much larger force than was at any time avail
able, and its failure entailed the ruin of the British
cause. The anonymous French editor of the " Corres-
pondance du Lord G. Germain " seems to have judged
fairly when he wrote : " L'un mettoit trop de lenteur
dans 1'execution de ses plans, et 1'autre trop de vivacite
dans la poursuite des siens." We may agree with
him that things would have gone differently " si le
comte Cornwallis avoit eu le flegme de Sir Henri
Clinton," or "si le chevalier Clinton avoit eu 1'ardeur
et 1'activite du lord Cornwallis." Considering, how-
INTRODUCTION xxix
ever, that the obstacles to be encountered were fully
as much moral as military, some may question
his opinion that " si les Anglois avoient eu un
Washington a la tete de leur armee, il y a longtemps
qu'il ne seroit plus question de guerre sur le continent
de I'Amerique."
In conclusion, I have to express my very great
obligation to the authorities of the House of Lords,
British Museum, Public Record Office, Royal Institu
tion ; of the bureaux des Affaires Etrangeres, de la
Marine, and de la Guerre, Paris ; of the Spanish
archives at Seville, Simancas, and Alcala de Henares ;
and of the Dutch archives at the Hague ; to the
Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice,
Mrs. Stopford Sackville, Lord Auckland, Oscar Brown
ing, Esq., M.A., and also to the Department of State
at Washington, for the facilities and assistance accorded
to me in my researches.
In the copious Index many biographical notices
are given, and for some of the facts 1 thankfully
acknowledge my indebtedness to Ross's Cornwallis
(by courtesy of Mr. Murray), to the Westminster
Abbey Registers and various biographical dictionaries;
but the bulk of information has grown out of my
own memoranda and indexes of American correspon
dence and documents in the European Archives.
BENJAMIN FJIANKLIN STEVENS.
I January 1888.
N A R R A T I V E
OF
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
SIR HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
le with S. H. Clintons Compts 4n Major Taylor, who is re-
to Capt Duncan this is the best quested to return it when he has
noted Narrative June 86. perused it as there are private
2f Biron notes in it. H. C.
3g For my old Friend Col Goat's 5o Gen. McLean
Reading
6d Sir H. Clinton need only
refer to Lord Cornwallis letter
in his Reply to prove that his
Lordship came into Virginia
without S. H. Clintons approba
tion and advised solid operation
there, pages 49. 51. S. H. C.
narrative &c. 48. 49. L. C.
Reply — the letters pages 8 &
10 S. H. Clinton's Narrative are
prooffs that the admiral in the
West Indies had been positively,
and repeatedly ordered to follow
de Grasse & cover those opera
tions ; & this is sufficient to
prove that S. H. C. could be no
ways responsible for the misfor
tunes of the Campaign 81. but
S. H. C cannot content himself
barely with proving He is not to
blame, he thinks it a duty to
point out who is.
7e Some short queries in conse
quence of the following fact.
The Rebels having put the fate
o both Carolinas on that of C.
Town, and a fortnight after its
surrender L. Corns informed
S. H. C. there was no longer op
position in S. Carolina, how came
that province to be in the state
it was at the close of Campn 81.
1st because his Lordship trusted
the Malitia by themselves without
regular support by which that
brave officer Ferguson & his
corps was lost, all the Militia dis
heartened and disarmed, & the
whole province thrown back in
rebellion.
2dly because L. C. did not co
operate with Tarlton at Cowpens
which he might have done by a
very short march and if he had
Morgan was lost at his passage of
Catawba.
3dly because when at Croscreek
in March 81 instead of falling
back upon S. Carolina as he was
directed and had promised he
went to Wilmington, and after
wards into Virginia, contrary to
the wishes of his Comr in chief,
at the risk of Carolinas and
Georgia (which nothing but Lord
Rawdons gallantry & abilities
saved for that moment) at the
risk of all the corps concerned in
the move, without a plan when
he came there, & not chusing to
follow that he found G. Phillips
had been ordered to carry into
execution. If it is necessary to
explain how the fatal catastrophe
of York Town was brought for
ward, informed me his post would
be f ortifyed after regular survey
(and plans) in 6 weeks & when
attacked in it 5 weeks and five
days after, retires without firing
a shot to Gloster which post had
been surveyd or examined which
was taken up in a hurry,
after the french did arrrive in
Septr and which was ill chosen,
ill constructed, commanded, and
infiladed & he was reduced
to extremity in 7 days open
trenches, if still another cause
is wanted look for it page 193
to 197 incluve in L Cornwallis
reply to my Narrative.
NARRATIVE
OF
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
SIR HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
RELATIVE TO HIS
CONDUCT
DURING
PART OF HIS COMMAND OF THE KING's TROOPS
IN
NORTH AMERICA;
Particularly to that which respects the unfortunate Issue of the
Campaign in 1781.
WITH AN
APPENDIX,
CONTAINING
COPIES and EXTRACTS of those Parts of his Correspondence
WITH
LORD GEORGE GERMAIN,
EARL CORNWALLIS,
REAR ADMIRAL GRAVES, &c.
Which are referred to therein.
LONDON:
Printed for J. DEBRETT, (successor to Mr. ALMON,) opposite
Burlington-house, Piccadilly, 1783.
NABBATIVE
OP
LIEUTENANT GENEEAL
SIB HENEY CLINTON, &c.
BEING conscious, that during my command in
North America, my whole conduct was
actuated by the most ardent zeal for the King's
service,111 and the interests of the public, I was
exceedingly mortified, when I returned to England,
after a service of seven years in that country, to find
that erroneous opinions had gone forth respecting
it ; and that many persons had, in consequence,
admitted impressions to my preju[ 2 Jduce. Anxious,
therefore, to explain what had been misinterpreted
or misrepresented, (as indeed might well be expected,
from the publication of Lord C.'s letter of the 2Oth
of October, 2ab.3d.4h.5c.ei.7k without being accompanied
lh which His Maj's. ministers (the most material of whch he
had repeatedly ackd has acknowledged were not) but
2ab Which L4 George Germain that letter was published without
was requested to Publish but did mine in answer,
not. 61 which his Lordp had in his
3d Which the Minister was re- possession when he desired Lord
quested to publish but did not Townsend to call in the house of
4h of 4 letters between L. Lords for his reply to it, to be
Cornwallis and S. H. C. on the read altho the mine to which
Subjt. of L. C. surrender at York it was an answer had not been
Town those of L. C. they only read nor did his Lordship pro-
were published duce my answer to the minister
5c All Lord Cornwallis letters after a letter which I sent to him
were read in the House of Lords, in answer to that of the 2oth of
and none of mine either, to the October of Lord Cornws altho I
Minister or His Lordship were had requested it might be pub-
produced, so that his letter of lished.
the 2 oth October containg insinua- 7k Lord Cornwallis's letter of
tions and assertions not founded the 2 oth of October giving an
6 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
by my answer to it)lm I had proposed taking an
opportunity, in the House of Commons, of saying a
few words on such parts of my conduct as seemed not
to be sufficiently understood : and I flatter myself I
should have been able to make it appear, that I acted
up to the utmost of my powers, from the beginning
to the end of my command ; and that none of the
misfortunes of the very unfortunate campaign of
1781 can, with the smallest degree of justice, be
imputed to me.
But I arrived here so late in the session, that I
was advised to defer it; and it was judged that the
gracious reception I had just met with from my
Sovereign rendered an immediate explanation un-
necessary.2m'3b*4a>5c*6h' I was [ 3 ] not, however, ap
prised to what degree the public prejudice had been
excited against me7a else, I should probably have been
induced to have taken an earlier opportunity of
offering to Parliament what I have to say on the
subject. But the late change in public affairs,8a fur
nishing so much more important matter for their
deliberation, deprived me of the opportunity I
thought I should have had : and, as by the present
account of the loss of York -Town had succeeded or would have
was read in the House of Lords, succeeded.
while the letters I wrote in 4a who was pleased to approve
answer to it both to the Minister my whole conduct and to say
and Lord Cornwallis were not that " all my plans during that
called for, but Lord Townsend war either had or would have
strange as it may appear was succeeded
desired by Lord Cornwallis, to 5c who approved of my whole
call for his answer to those letters, conduct, and told me that all my
to be read in the house of Lords. Plans during that war either had,
1m which L Gr G. had been de- or would have succeeded,
sired to publish & had not done. 6h who had in the fullest
2m the K — approved of my manner approved of my conduct,
whole Conduct & told me " all and added that all my Plans
my plans either had succeeded or either had or would have sue-
would have succeeded." ceeded.
3b His M. Expression was that 7a owing to misrepresentation,
all Sir H. Clintons Plans either 8a the Peace
SIS HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 7
recess it is probable that I may not be able to
execute my intentions before a late period, when
perhapslb+ peculiar circumstances2^3^-4^5^100?^8-611
might force me through delicacy to decline it, I beg
leave to lay before the public the following plain
Narrative, which will, I trust, remove prejudice
and error.
I have much to regret that, when this business was
discussed in the House of Lords last session of
Parliament, the whole of my correspondence, with
the late American Minister, Lieutenant General Earl
Corn[ 4 ] wallis, and the Admirals commanding on the
West-India and American stations, was not produced,
or at least such parts thereof as, being necessary to
explain my conduct, might have appeared consistently
with state policy. 7m'8d' Because the letters which com-
Ibfhiklmnopqrs peculiar circum
stances underlined.
2a Lord Cornwallis talked of
for India
3bm Lord Cornwallis going to
India which was expected every
day.
4d Lord Cornwallis had offered
himself to go to India.
Scfiklnopqrs Lord C'a going to
India
6h Lord C. was going to India.
7m Instead of which such parts
only were introduced as gave his
reasons for coming into Vir
ginia contrary to my orders &
his own promises and the unfor
tunate conclusion of that Cam
paign witht a line of mine on
either subject.
8d The Minister knew there
was blame somewhere that it lay
between Lord Cornwallis for
coming into Virginia contrary
to any orders, or the Cabinet for
approving of that Plan till too
late or the Admiral S. G. Rodney
for not following de Grasse as he
had been ordered — he did not
chuse to take his share of blame,
nor did the Cabinet theirs — he
did not chuse to blame L. Corn
wallis, because He was on the spot
to retort — nor S. G Rodney be
cause his brilliant victory of the
1 2 April had made him too popu
lar, altho he knew L C letter of
the 2oth Octr contained insinua
tions and assertions not founded
in fact, he suffered it to go forth,
without mine in answer depend
ing on the old proverb qui les
absens ont toujours tort ; not re
collecting that on ne pouvent en
donner a S. H. Clinton effective-
ment. if all those insinuations
and assertions had been as
well supported as they were ill-
supported no blame ought to fall
to S H C share. He was
forced into Operations in Vir-
gina. He pointed out the
danger of them without a fleet
to cover them. We were pro
posed one by Minister and Ad
miral he had it not but notwg
8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
pose that correspondence, being written to the moment
as events happened, are certainly the most faithful
records of my actions and intentions ; and are conse
quently the clearest, fairest, and most unexceptionable
testimonies I can adduce in their support. I hope,
therefore, I shall stand exculpated from the necessity
of the case, for any impropriety there may be in my
annexing to this letter such of them as I may judge
most requisite for that purpose. Three of them
indeed will, I presume, be found very material,
(Appendix, No. IX.)lab as they contain my answers
and observations upon Lord Cornwallis's letters21* of
the 2Oth of October and 2d of December on the
subject of [ 5 ] the unfortunate conclusion of the last
campaign in the Chesapeak ; 3c which latter I
am sorry to observe, were given to the public, while
mine in answer40 were withheld from it ; 5ab I
hope without design.6ab'7m-8h>
Although I never dared promise myself that any
exertions of mine, with my very reduced force (nearly
one-third less than that of my predecessor) could bring
the war9ab to a happylof+ conclusion ;llfikln°Mrs-12m yet
did all that depended on him to of the Catastrophe of York Town
succour L Cornwallis & relieve were produced in the House of
him from a Galere his own impru- Lords by the then Minister but
dence had embarked him in ; if not one of S. H. C. in answer,
we consider this for a year we 9ab While that of the Enemy
can say no more. was increased in Number & Dis-
lab Page 71 cipline & afterwards assisted by
2b Both these letters were a French Army, occasionally
called for & read in the House of covered by a French Fleet.
Lords, but neither of S. H. Clin- lOfiklmnopqrs conclusion under
tone in answer. lined.
3c [— ] both llfiklnopqrs While that of the
4c [answer] to them Enemy was increased in number,
5ab I hope to design underlined, discipline, assisted by a French
6ab But evidently with Design Army & covered by a French fleet.
7m But Sir clear with design 12m While that of the Enemy
8h such letters as contained his was encreased in Number Disci-
Lordsps reasons for going into pline assisted by a French Army
Virginia, for chusing York river in & covered by a French Fleet occa-
preference to James & liis account sionally.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE g
I confess that the campaign of 1781 terminated very
differently from what I once flattered myself it would ;
as may appear, by the subjoined extracts of letters,
written in the beginning of that year,*lc'2c-3s-4a and
* Extract Clinton to Cornwallis, 5 March 1781, see Letters pp 331
and 341.
Extract Phillips to Clinton, 16 April 1781, see Extract p 407.
lc to Lord Cornwallis March
5th 8 1
2c This letter was delivered
to Col. Balfour to be forwarded
to Lord Cornwallis on the 6th
April, but not sent for reasons
the Col must explain, had his
Lordship received this and others
by the same conveyance he would
not have marched into Virginia
3g This is one of the letters
which were delivered to Col. Bal
four on the 7th April but was not
sent to Lord Cornwallis then at
Wilmington had his Lordship re
ceived it He Certainly would not
have marched into Virginia while
there was a doubt whether a
British or a French Fleet was in
Chesapeak Bay.
4a All were convinced there was
much Blame somewhere. Mini
sters did not chuse to blame Lord
Cornwallis publickly for forcing
Operations in Virginia lest Lord
C. should retort on them who
had once approved of it, and
ordered me to adopt it, nor would
they Both blame the admirals in
the West Indies who had been
ordered & had promised to cover
it if necessary with his whole
Fleet, lest He should retort on
the Ministers in a manner His
pamphlet now explains. They
therefore, seem all agreed to pub
lish L Cornwallis letter of the
20th Octr Cong both insns &
assertions which He acknow him
self since were unfounded witht
any part of our correspondence
to prove it, thus throwing respon
sibility on the absent man, who in
fact could be no ways concern'd
respecting opns, He had always
objected to, as dangerous before
we had recovered N. Carolina, or
were certain of a covering Fleet —
in a Climate the most unhealthy,
and the worst season — in which
He had not the means of subsis
tence, from whence He could not
retire by land except under most
serious losses — in which he could
not remain in safety unless covered
by a Fleet or a Place of arms till
that Fleet should arrive ; Opera
tions that S. H. C. (as He had
been ordered) did all in his power
to support, to secure, by a well
chosen station the admirals choice
not in York River where L C
placed himself but in James
River, and to succour when in
danger by embarking himself with
6000 men on board an inferior
fleet (of 25 sail) to that of the
Enemy of 37 sail of the line, nor
was there notg a doubt in the
naval chiefs, but that S. H Clinton
would have joined & succoured
L. C. had his Lordship defended
his post, 6 days longer or the
Fleet sailed six days sooner witht
insulting the leaders understand
ing. I cannot therefore ask him
whether any possible blame can
lay at S H Clinton's door.
10
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
which were [ 6 ] transmitted to the Minister. lc* I
was led, however, into these hopes, more by the
apparent distresses of the enemy than any material
successes we had met with. 2bm>3d<4k-
The plan I had formed for the campaign of 1781,
(upon the expectation5a of a6m rein[ 7 Jforcement
from Europe — from the West-Indies — and from the
Southward (after operation should cease in that
quarter)7a'8k*9d<101 — added to what I might be able
to spare at the time from the small force under my
immediate command at New- York) was calculated
to make a fair and solid effort in favour of our
friendsllk*12m — in a district13a*14c where I had some
reason to believe they were numerous and hearty ;
and where I judged it might be made with little
lc by intercepted decypTiered
letters proving the French would
not assist america beyond that
Campaign, by other intercepted
letters from Washington, to Con
gress, &c &c and others & from
every symptom.
2bm or could in our reduced
state expect
3d or that I with my reduced
force could expect to meet with
tho Washington in his letter to
Congress in May 81 speaking
of their distresses says " We are
suffering more from the remnant
of an Army than We did in their "
&c &c.
4k or indeed could expect
5 a promise
6m promised
7a L Cornwallis had implyed it
in all his letters previous to his
marching into Virginia.
8k all which were positively
promised.
9d if reinforced to make such
Effort, if not reinforced or till I
was to remain on respectable de
fence, as at N. York having
added the Chesapeak corps to
such command from various
causes that Campaign without
effort would be the last of French
assistance now too late the Cause
and consequently of American
resistance !
101 if reinforced as promised I
intended to carry on operations
on Delaware neck, if not rein
forced or till I was, assembled
my whole force at N. York de
fensible leaving only a small
corps in Chesapeak in either case
tis probable the Campaign 81
would have been the last of
French assistance or of American
resistance.
Ilk from Baltimore to Delaware
neck beginning our operations
with Philadelphia.
12m after in the M. words I had
sent such ample reinforcements
to L. C.
13a perfectly healthy.
14c Delawares Peninsula safe,
healthy well stocked with pro
visions
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE n
danger, even from a temporary naval superiority of
the enemy. This plan had been suggested to the
Minister in the year 1780, and more particularly
explained to him in 1781 ;iac.2abd.3t>.4hi.5k notwith
standing which a preference was61 given to another,
(Appendix, No. I.)7abdm Which8abm seemed to be9ab
[ 8 ] forced (Appendix, No. II.)10abd upon me by Lord
Cornwallis's quitting the Carolinas,ni-12fiklmnoWs-13fr
where I had left him in the command, and marching
into Virginia; a measure, I must say, determined
upon without my approbation, and very contrary to my
wishes and intentions.14ab'15d-16c-171-18m- The Minister
directed 19c me to support Lord Cornwallis and solid
operation in Virginia ; the danger of which, without
a covering fleet, I had constantly represented to
him. He repeatedly and positively promised me
a covering fleet ; *20ab'21d and when the [ 9 ]22m
* Extracts from Lord George Germain's letters to Sir Henry Clinton :
see Letters 4 April 1781 p 379 : 2 May 1781^464 : 7 July 1781
ii. 42 : 14 July 1781 ii. 69 : 24 July 1781 ii. 91 : 25 September
1781 ii. 161. 23b-24d-25h-
lac and approved 15d & contrary to my Order
2abd Page 95 which were not to make any
3b the Cabinet in most posi- move that could risk C. Town,
tive terms approved of this plan, 16c And as I have heard since it
till misled by L. C. this in April was done at a time Charles Town
and May 81 they reject mine was open: (many of the old
and order me to adopt L C's. works thrown down, to replace
4hl And appro vedtill May 1781 them, by others) I must add it
5k and was repeatedly ap- was done contrary to my Orders
proved till May 81 "to make no move that could risk
61 after C. Town."
Tabdm Page 49 N. 104. 171 the Minister forbid my with-
8abm was drawing a man from thence, how
9ab seemed to be run through. could I then send him back.
lOabd Page 51. 18m all this he owns in his
111 & Charlston. reply.
12fiklmnopqrs which I had 19c A Cabinet order it was.
ordered him & he had promised 20ab Vide Page 99. 105 & 108.
to consider as the principal object. Vide also Pages 93 & 94.
13fr Carolinas underlined. 2 Id Pages 99. 105. 93. 64.
14ab and were contrary to my 22m S. S. Hood
orders & his own Promises. 23b These are all letters from
12 CLINTON-CORNWALL1S CONTROVERSY
Admiralla arrived with the naval reinforcement from
the West -Indies, he2fiMmn°P<irs'3b+-4abd was clearly 5a
the Minister to S. H. Clinton
promising a covering Fleet.
24d These are letters from the
Minister to Sr H. Clinton pro
mising a covering Fleet.
25h This Pampt was written in
terms of great moderation,
S. H. C. meant only to say enough
to induce L. Cornwallis to call
for an Enquiry S H well know
ing that on such enquiry it would
appear that L. C. had frequently
disobeyed his orders, that C. Bal-
four had neglected to send S. H.
C. dispatches to Lord Cornwallis
before he marched into Virginia,
that those dispatches all but
forbid L C going into Virginia,
that L. C. repeatedly disobey'd
S. H. C's orders while there,
that he took York river in direct
disobedience of S. H. C orders,
that he had declared no diversion
could be of any use to him,
that the only way to succour
him was to join him by sea
in York river by forcing a
superior Fleet, that there were
many assertions in his official
letter of the 2oth Octr absolutely
false, that I did not give him
assurances of the exertions of the
navy to succour him before the
2 Qth Sepr; that I did not tell him
the fleet ivould sail about the 5th
Octr & that he had more than
double the intrenching tools he
said he had, that S. H. C had
pointed out the danger of ope
ration in Chesapeak without a
Covering Fleet ; and the extracts
in the margin will clearly prove
not only that S H C was
promised a fleet, but that Lord
Rodney a sufficient Fleet in the
West Indies, but neglected to
send one, & that we either had
not one in time or L. C. did not
defend his works till it arrived,
that S. H. C had chosen the
only mode by which Lord Corn
wallis could be succoured ; that
he not only did all that depended
on him to carry it into execution,
but all that depended on him to
strike at the Enemy Combid
action before they were put
in motion against him & there
we des malheurs de la Campaigne
8 1 il se lave les mains. Party
Zealots may have said that S. H.
C. ought to have marched out of
N. York in search of W. & pre
vented his going into Virginia
had he had force sufficient &
known the Enemys Fleet supe
rior it possibly would have been
the best Plan but having every
reason to expect a covering
Fleet, & having determined in
consequence if W. should go
there to follow him, & in which
opinion L. Cornwallis had con
stantly declared himself under
these circumstances to have en
gaged another would have been
such an absurdity that the basest
sycophant of Lord Cornwallis
dared not have defended it, tho
many of these Gentry before the
above circumstances were known
ignorant of my Force & the local
effected to censure S. H. C. for
not doing so.
la Lord Hood.
2fiklmnopqrs read his Letter
page 54.
Sbdfiklmnpqr he underlined.
4abd Vide Page 53.
5a clearly underlined.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 13
of [ 10 ] opinion himself, and of course convinced
me, that he had brought that covering fleet. (Ap
pendix, No. IIL)labd* Therefore, as Admiral Graves's
squadron was acknowledged to be superior to that
under Monsieur de Barras, [ 1 1 ] I could not but
suppose that the arrival of Admiral Digby (hourly
expected) would give us a most decisive naval superi
ority. — And here, perhaps, it may not be improper to
remark, that though the Minister directs me,2abd by
his letters of the 2d of May, and 6th of June, to adopt
solid operation in Virginia,3fiklnoP(irs-4m'5f+ he signifies to
me his Majesty's approbation of my own plan,6a in a
subsequent letter of the i4th of July,7abdk telling me at
the same time,8d that " he has not the least doubt
" Lord Cornwallis will have fully seen the reasonable-
" ness of it, and has executed it with his wonted ardor,
" intrepidity, and
labdPage 53.
2abd Pages 49 & 51.
Sfiklnopqrs which had been
forced upon me by Lord Corn
wallis.
4m which had been forced upon
me by Lord Cornwallis coming
there.
5f iklmnopqrs Virginia underlined.
6a This approbation I received
alas too late.
Tabdk Vide Page 9 & Page 18
8d Page 1 8.
9c " that admiral Arbuthnot
11 had at last been sent to ano-
" ther command, and that it was
" hoped / should receive this in-
" formation in time to prevent
" my resigning the command of
" the Army to Lord Cornwallis "
tis clear from this what his
Majesty and ministers thought of
the good Earl, and his Plan : in
the most inimical Province — the
most sickly, & at the worst of
seasons, no retreat from it, no
subsisting in it, & requiring a
Fleet to cover it.
lOfrs tells me His Majesty has
removed Adi Arbuthnot from the
Command as I had requested and
hopes I shall receive this Intelli
gence in time to prevent my
resigning the Command to Lord
Cornwallis Read Letters from Ld
G. Germain to Sr H. C. Page 18
&36.
Hi Tells me His Majesty has
removed the Admiral from the
Command as I had requested, &
hopes I shall receive this intelli
gence in time to prevent my re
signing the command to Ld Corn
wallis. Read Letters from Lord
Geo : Germain to Sir H. Clinton
Pages 1 8 & 36.
12knpq tells me His Majesty
has removed from the Command
as I had requested & hopes I
shall receive this intelligence in
time to prevent my resigning the
Command to Ld Cornwallis.
14
CLI3TON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Under these circumstances, and with these assur
ances, I never could have the most distant idea that
Mr. Washington had the least hopes of a superior
French fleet in the Chesapeak ; and I consequently
never could suppose that he would venture to go
there.lh'2a-3b'4s- But if he should,55 I was satisfied
from the reasons already [12] stated, that I should be
able to meet him there with every advantage on
Read Letters from Lord Geo :
Germain to Sir H. Clinton pages
18 &36.
131 tells me His Majesty has
removed Admiral Arbuthnot from
the Command as I had requested
and hopes I shall receive this
intelligence in time to prevent my
resigning the Command to Lord
Cornwallis Read Letters from
Lord Geo : Germain to Sir Henry
Clinton, pages 18 & 36. As it
was the Cabinet that gave first
the preference to Lord Corn
wallis Plan so it was that same
Cabinet that afterwards approved
of mine alas too late !
14m tells me His Majesty has
removed old Admiral Arbuthnot
from the Command as I had re
quested and hopes I shall receive
this intelligence in time to pre
vent my resigning the Command
to Lord Cornwallis ! Read Let
ters from Lord Geo : Germain to
Sir H. Clinton pages 18 & 36.
all were in 3d person.
15o tells me His Majesty has re
moved old Admiral Arbuthnot as I
had requested and hopes I shall re
ceive this intelligence in time to
preventmyresigningtheCommand
to Lord Cornwallis Read Letters
from Lord Geo : Germain to SirH.
Clinton, pages 18 & 36.
lh Lord C. opinion was very
different he did not adopt it
altho till he had reed my permis
sion to follow his own if he had
any, he ought in strictness to
have adopted it.
2a I may appeal to him
whether under such circumstances
he would all his intercepted let
ters confirm this.
3b In short as all the Admirals
and all the Generals agreed with
me that the only way to succour
L. Cornwallis was to join him
by sea, & L Cornwallis repeatedly
calls him to York River, S H
Clinton could not with propriety
have engaged in operations, that
might have prevented or re
tarded that movement, if he
could have done so, but the fact
is had not 4000 to move with &
therefore he would not if he
could; but he could not if he
would.
4g S H C had been promised
as is seen a covering Fleet, and
thought he had till long after
Washington had marched for
Virginia.
5b an Event which, so far from
desiring to prevent, I most ar
dently wished under the assur
ances I had received of being
supported by a decided naval
superiority.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 15
my side, by having the command of the waters of that
bay — without which he could not possibly feed his
army.lb* This opinion has been also since confirmed
by a letter from him to Count De Grasse,2M'3a'4ck
dated 26th of September 1781, (No. IV. Appendix)
wherein he tells him, if he quits the Chesapeak, the
enemy will certainly get possession of it, and he must
disband his army.5m*
Had my correspondence been produced, it would
have appeared from it, and the returns accompanying
it, that instead of seventeen, twenty, nay twenty-four
thousand men, which it has been reported I had at
New York (after the very ample reinforcements as
the Minister acknowledges (No. V. Appendix)6bd
which I had sent to the southward) I had not
12,000 effectives, and of these not above 9,300 fit for
duty, regulars and provincials. 7c.8c.9a.iok. ^ut ]^ac[ j jia(j
[13] twice that number, I do not know that, after
leaving sufficient garrisons in the islands and posts
lb Consequently could not en
gage in operations which might
have prevented a timely Em
barkation of the Troops the
moment the Fleet was ready to
receive them,
2bd Page 53.
3a his letter
4ck read his letter to De Grasse
Page 55.
5m so that S. H C would not
certainly have to acquiesce in
operations to prevent his doing
what he under the promises he had
of a covering fleet wished him to
do, we thought he could have de
layed particularly as by engaging
in such operations he might be
prevented from embarking on
board the fleet & meeting W. in
Virg. where L. C. called him &
where all was of opinion he could
do it to advantage.
6bd Page 6.
2500
7c in July 8 1
8c 1 2th augt arrived
Germn recruits.
9a Be it observed that since my
return from the seige of Charles
Town I had detatched to the
Southward, to join or Cooperate
with L. C. near 9000 men.
10k Lord Cornwallis reported
on the 1 6th Sepr that the Enemy's
Fleet were 37 of the line & he
knew from me that we had only
21. I did not till the 2^ re
ceive his letter of the 1 6th. My
troops were dispersed in the 3
Islands of K York, Staten &
Long Island, occupying near 60
miles, they were employed in
throwing up defensive works, &
in guarding those already raised,
to have assembled these at Kings-
bridge wantonly would have been
unpardonable.
i6
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
dependingla (which it is admitted by al!2d would take
6000) I could, as has been insinuated, have prevented30
the junction bet ween Mons. Rochambeau and General
Washington, which was made in the highlands, at
least 50 miles from me ; or that I could have made
any direct move against their army4c when joined
(consisting then of at least 11,000 men, exclusive of
militia, assembled on either side the Hudson) with any
prospect of solid advantage from it. 5bOr if I had as
many reasons to believe that Mr. Washington would
move his army into Virginia60 without715 a covering
French fieet,8k as I had to think he would not ;9b>1oab
I couldllab not have prevented his passing the Hudson
under cover of his forts at Ver planks and Stoney
Points. 12b-13s* Nor (supposing I had boats properly
la had that been practicable it
surely must have hapned during
5 W. Howe's Command when
He had in the Field 15000, and
before the French had joined.
2d the Genls in Council.
3c absur'd
4c not less so
5b nor.
6c which after what S S Hood
told me I could not suspect
7k without underlined.
8k and to be convinced I should
have one all the Genls concurred
with me in opinion that the only
way to assist Lord Cornwallis was
to join him in York River, His
Lordship repeatedly said no
diversion would be of use that
the only way to succour him was
to join him in York River, had I
therefore been in force sufficient
to have engaged in any other
operation it would have been
wrong to have done so, as it
would have arrested, nay pre
vented a Plan which all approved,
6 which we waited only for the
return of the Fleet (which till
the 2nd of Sepr we supposed
superior) to carry into execution.
9b could I not
lOab I run through.
llab not run through.
12b after I knew of his Army
being assembled on the West of
that River.
13g The short Fact is that
when I found Lord C. threatned
by such a superior armament I
consulted all the admirals and
Generals and it was their unani
mous opinion confirmed repeat
edly by that of Lord Cornwallis
that the only way to succour him
was to embark on board the Fleet
and attempt to join him in York
River (which He had fixed as a
naval Station and fortified) in
preference to Old Point Comfort
in James River which he had been
directed to fortify, to have
engaged in any other move that
might have retarded this would
have been absurd. S. H C of
course would not have done it if
He could, but he had not the
means if he would have done it.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 17
manned) would it have been adviseable to have landed
at Elizabeth town,la [14 ] in the face of works which
he might easily have occupied (as they were only
seven miles from his2b camp at Chatham)3b'4k without
subjecting my army to be beat, en detail. Nor could
I, when informed of his march towards the Delaware,5ab
have passed an army in time to have made any
impression upon him before he crossed that river.6ab>
But with my reduced force, any attempt of the sort
would have been madness and folly in the extreme.
7b.8b.9d.10c-llf.12k.
la If in force to oppose would
have met me at my landing if
not in force to meet me might
have reached the Delaware before
I could have debarked at Elizabeth
Town my army &c &c &c.
2b camp underlined.
3b Strong Camp behind the
Pisaick River.
4k within a few miles of his mid-
dlebrook Camp, which S W. H.
with 15000 thought too respect
able to attack in 77.
5ab have to to underlined.
6ab not having the Means to
doit.
7b Even if I had not expected
a Superior Fleet to cover my
Operations.
8b Lord Cornwalhs seems to
have been so well convinced of
this from his own experience of
what hap'ned to him in 76 that
he uniformly said no diversion
will be of use the only way to
succour me is to join me by sea
in York River.
9d In short under the promises
I had of a covering Fleet, and
from S S Hood that he had
brought one, I would not have
engaged in operations in Jersey
to prevent Washington going
Southward if I had been in force
sufficient but the fact is I was
not in force sufficient to have
done so if I wished to have
done so.
10c In short the Generals agreed
unanimously that the only way
to succour L. Cornwallis was to
join him, & L. Corns repeatedly
says " no diversion will be of
" use the only way to succour
" me is to join me " I would not
therefore have engaged in any
other if I could ; but the Fact
is I could not if I would.
1 If for if I had taken out my
whole force 9300 I appeal to
those who know the country
what chance I had against W.
with 10,000 regulars at least &
the Jersey Militia in a Country
where from the nature of it
scarcely any victory could be
compleat, and where defeat would
have been too much
12k In short I would not have
attacked Washington if I could
have done it ; as my only motive
must have been to prevent what
I could have no idea he would
attempt ; but I could not (tis
plain) attack him if I would have
done it.
i8
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
With what might possibly be spared from such a
force, nothing could be attempted except against
detachments from Mr. Washington's army,lm-2h-3a or
(when reinforced in a small degree) against such of
it's distant magazines as might occasionally happen to
be unguarded. Two of the latter offered, one against
Philadelphia, which I certainly should have attempted
in July, had Lord Cornwallis spared me any part of
3000 men ; but as his Lordship seemed to think he
[15] could not hold the4k stations5k we6c both
thought eligible,7a*8b<9c 10d if he spared me any part
of the force with him, I was obliged to relinquish
1m all these reasons are totally
unnecessary the short is S H. C.
would not have engaged in ope
rations in Jersey to prevent W.
going to Virginia if he could &
the fact is he had not the means
if he would.
2h by all this detail is only
meant to be proved that S H C
would not have adopted any
other Plan than that already de
termined on if he had had a force
sufficient, but the fact is he had
not that force if he had been in
clined to have Employed it in
Jersey. & therefore S H had
always said respecting operations
in Jersey and under promise of
having a Covering Fleet He
would not have engaged in it if
he could but he could not if he
would.
3a I do these annonymous
writers too much honor to
answer all these absurd insinua
tions.
4k stations underlined.
5k to garrison a,respectablepost,
as Place d'armes and to cover
large ships & sufficient also for de
sultory expeditions in the bay.
6c both to eligible underlined.
7a Lord Cornwallis & I had
both thought well of York River
tho I had always preferred James
river as a station for large ships,
and a place of Arms but when
He quitted it, and the Admiral
was of opinion a naval Station
was absolutely necessary and
named James river from his own
knowledge & the Commodores, I
ordered his Lordship to take that
of Hampton road & fortify old
point Comfort in James river to
secure it, my L. C. disapprov
ing of James river took that
of York for which He became
therefore responsible.
8b before I by desire of the
Admiral directed him to fortify
old Point Comfort in James
River.
9c we both agreed a healthy
Station as a Place of Arms, &
to cover the navy, necessary;
and by the advice of the Admiral
I afterwards ordered Lord Corn
wallis to fortify old point Comfort
in James river covering a naval
station of Hampton road in that
river.
10d a healthy station to cover
large ship SL
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 19
this design. The other much more important, was
against Rhode Island. I had discovered by inter
cepted letters from all the French Admirals and
Generals, that Count Rochambeau's army had
marched from Rhode Island to join Mr. Washington
at the White Plains ; that their battering train and
stores for siege were left at Providencelc'2d under
little more than a militia guard ; and that their fleet
remained in Rhode Island harbour with orders, as
soon as repaired, to retire to Boston for security.30-
By private information, which I had at that time,
I found also that the works at Rhode Island were in
a great measure dismantled,40 and had only a few
invalids and militia to guard them, and that they
were both there and at Providence under great
apprehensions of a visit from us. From5b other
motives65 as well as my own knowledge of these
posts, I had the strongest [ 16 ] reason to expect
the fullest success to an attempt against them,7a'8b<9m
lc Contrary to Rochambeaus with Howitzers & red shot from
opinion commanding Heights and the
2d Much against Rochambeaus Capture of their Heavy Artillery
consent or opinion tis needless to & Stores which would have effec-
mention particulars. Suffice that tually defeated all their future
the fullest success might probably Designs.
have been the consequence of a 8b No less than at least the
combined attempt of navy & annoying the Fleet with Howit-
army ; Howitzers, Red shot &c zers & red shot from commanding
from commanding heights, and Heights, and the Capture of
against his train for siege at their Heavy artillery & Stores,
Providence. The Admiral till he which would have effectually de-
discovered the defects of his Fleet feated all their future Designs,
had consented to go. S. H. C. instead of anoying I might say
was embarking with 3000 Elite to destroying their Fleet at R. Is-
attempt all that depended on him. land, all was ready the troops
3c their Fleet half manned and embark'd the admiral first con-
in bad order, sented and then discover'd two
4c the works of Newport in of his ships hors De Combat,
general thrown down a few 9m No less than the destruction
militia guarding what remained. of that Fleet & Capture of their
5b other motives underlined. Heavy Navl stores &c in that all
6b private Inf ormn that can be done by Howitzers &
7a greatly annoying the Fleet red shot from Comg heighths.
20
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
and I therefore immediately proposed to Admiral
Graves a joint expedition for that purpose ; which
he readily consented to. It was accordingly agreed
between us, that it should be undertaken as soon as
he could assemble his fleet, and a small reinforcement
(hourly expected) should arrive from Europe. la'2b*
The reinforcement joined me on the nth of August,
and the Admiral (who had sailed on a cruise) having
returned to the coast on the i6th, I immediately
renewed my3k proposal,4kt5a-6c-7h<8° (Appendix, No.
la While there was the least
probability of the Fleet and Army
being able to attempt this Ser
vice, Sr H. Clinton would not
have been justifiable in engaging
in any other Operation which
might have delayed it.
2b While there was the least
probability of the Fleet & army
being able to attempt this ser
vice, Sir H. Clinton would not
have been justifiable in engaging
in any other Operation which
might have delayed it even had
he had the means.
3k proposal underlined.
4k I found the admiral had
assembled his Fleet, I offered
myself the Instant he arrived.
The admiral on his arrival in
formed he was ready but in
answer to my letter telling him
I was he told me two of his
ships, Robust <$f Altide wanted
repairs. I still offered to go &
attempt my part, asking only of
the Admiral to mark the Harbour,
with his line of battle while his
frigates put me ashore but I heard
no more Howitzers on very com
manding heighths would have
obliged their Fleet at 4 or 500
yds distance to have retired ;
Ours would have Entered the
harbour, & joined in operation
with the army commanding
heighths on banks of R. Island
channel, beyond which the E.
Fleet could not retire safely.
5a I offered to attend him in
Person with 3000 men at a
moments warning.
6c The Admiral assembled his
Fleet imply'd he was ready, on
seeing him arrive I began to em
bark the troops & told him I was
ready, He then examined his
Fleet, & told me he could not
go as two were disabled; as I
asked nothing of the Admiral
but to mark the Harbour while
I landed with 3000 men having
Howitz. & red shot to stir the
Enemys Fleet, I offered still to
go or risk 24 hours notice when
he should be ready :
7h the short fact is the Admiral
told S. H. C. he was ready.
S. H. seeing him arrive, not only
called upon him to proceed but
embarked the troops, but the
admiral on receipt of his letter
examined the state of his fleet
& informed as above that two
were unfit to proceed.
80 The fact stands thus, when I
heard on the i6th that the Ad
miral was returned, I ordered the
troops to embark & wrote to
propose that we two should go to
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
21
yj^iaM.2m. The Admiral informed me in answer,
that he was under the necessity of sending the
Robuste to the yard to be refitted, and that he
should take the opportunity while that was doing
of shifting a mast or two in the Prudente ; and
when those repairs were accomplished, he would
give me timely notice, (Appendix, No. VII.)3abt The
ships were not ready on the 28th ; Sir Samuel Hood,
however, arriving [17] on that day, I immediately
ordered the troops to be embarked ; and going to
the Admirals on Long Island, I proposed to them
that the expedition should instantly take place : but
receiving intelligence that evening that Monsieur De
Barras had sailed on the 25th, it was of course
stopped. 4m> Thus, to the Admirals great mortifica
tion and my own, was lost an opportunity of making
the most important attempt that had offered the
whole War 5fikJmnopqrs.6o.7d.8d.9k.
B Island immediately, the Ad
miral wrote also to inform me he
was arrived and ready; but letters
crossed each other, but examining
his fleet after he had received my
letter, he informed me as above.
labd Page 61.
2m It was so delicate the ad
miral on his return told me he
was ready, before I received this
letter I told him I was & called
upon him ; our letters crost &
when he reed mine he answered
back that two ships were hors de
combat.
Sab Pages 62 & 63
4m in short till the 28th this of
course would have stopt me &
after I had heard L C. opinion &
taken that of a council of war
1 6 Sep. of going to Virginia I
certainly could not concur in any
thing wh might prevent my going
there.
5fiklmnopqrs and while I had any
hopes of carrying it into execu
tion I could not have been
justified in engaging in any other
which might delay or prevent it.
60 I think I am not too san
guine when I say that fleet, if not
totally destroyed, would have
been hors de combat.
7d with S S Hood fleet in ad
dition there could not be the
least doubt of our having the
fullest success.
8d & this Lord C in answer
to my first letter wh every
other was of the same opn &
therefore to have engaged in any
other operation that might have
retarded or prevented my embark
ing when the Fleet was ready,
would have been the height of
folly, absurdity & misconduct.
9k tis my clear opinion founded
on a very general one that If we
could have sailed in time the
French fleet & battering train at
22
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Early in September, to my great surprise, (for I
still considered our fleet aslb superior)26 hearing
that Mr. Washington was decidedly marching to the
southward, I called a council of all the general
officers, who unanimously concurred with me in
opinion,3a-4b'5c'6b that the only way to succour Earl
Cornwallis was to go to him in the Chesapeak.7ht
Although I had every reason to disapprove of Earl
Cornwallis's march into Virginia, without consulting
me,8a-9b (at the risk of en[ 18 ]gaging me in
dangerous operations, for which I was not prepared)
lOa.iid ye^ as j supposed he acted with at least the
approbation of the Minister,120 1 left him as free as
air, when he arrived there, to plan and execute
according to his discretion ; — only recommending
to him, in case he had none of his own, the plan
i3fr.i4f.i5fikimnoPqrs j had offered to the Minister ;16b-17d
where he could not supply his
army for any time, from whence
he had no retreat, and where he
could not remain in safety, unless
protected by a Fleet, or by a
respectable Place of arms till
that Fleet should arrive.
lid had Constantly show'd my
disapprobation of, proving by the
ministers letter to me that this
plan had his Majesty's approba
tion.
12c who had Ordered me to sup
port him.
13fr plan underlined.
14f this plan Gen Phillips to
whom L Corns succeeded had
been directed to carry into execu
tion.
ISfiklmnopqrs the Minister not
only approved but ordered me
to support it extraordinary as that
may seem.
16b viz. a Mo veto the Head of
Chesapeak. &c &c.
17d One perfectly safe perfectly
ecconomical.
Rhode Island and Providence
would have been destroyed or
taken
lb superior underlined.
2b from the assurances of the
Admiral that it was.
3a in which Opinion Lord Corn
wallis uniformly concurr'd.
4b and they fully approved.
5c and did so with the 17 or 1 8
6b read L. Cornwallis letters
also page 197 and 204 Lord
Cornwallis's Reply.
7h where Lord Corns had re
peatedly called S. H Clinton saying
no diversion could be of the least
use that the only way to succour
him was to join him in York
river, & this even after He knew
what S H. C did not know tiU
the 23rd Sepr that the Enemy
had 37 sail & we only 21.
8 a nay contrary to my orders.
9b and even against orders.
lOa In the most inimical Pro
vince, in the most sickly Pro
vince at the worst season —
SIE HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 23
which, notwithstanding thelc opinion given in the
Ietter2d of July 14, before quoted,* I did not, how
ever, find his Lordship the least inclined to (" 19 ]
adopt.3i-4k-5b- And that letter, which I did not
receive till6bd September, found me deeply70 and
dangerously engaged in the operation he had forced
me into.
And here, perhaps, it may be proper to give the
reasons which induced me to recom [ 20 Jmend to Lord
Cornwallis to secure a naval station for large ships,
if one could be found that was capable of being
fortified and maintained against a temporary superi
ority of the enemy at sea, agreeable to the instruc
tions which I had before given to General Phillips,
and which were of course to be now considered as
such to his Lordship, (Appendix, No. X.) 8bd<
Although I ought not to have apprehended that
the enemy could have had a superiority at sea, after
the assurances I had received from91 the Minister,
iobm.iik.i2ij vet aiwavs wished to guard against even a
^'Extract Lord George Germain to Sir Henry Clinton, 14 July 1781,
see Letter ii. 69.
lc Minister's visions on the Delaware in
2d I give only that part of the Philadelphia, for from there
Letter I thought necessary. Washington subsisted in great
3i and after approves of my measure ; and even if the Enemys
Plan (alas too late !) as appears Fleet had been superior in both
by following extract. bays a thing utterly impossible,
4k and not to take a single He might have lived till the Fleet
man from thence till Virginia was should be forcd to retire or I
conquered. could have joined him from N.
5b It may however occur, that York.
having no Plan of his own, it 6bd September run through
became his Lordship's Duty at and October substituted.
least to try this, for which every- 7c deeply underlined.
thing was prepared on the Side 8bd Pages 93 & 94
of the Commander in chief and if 9i from the Minister under-
his Lordship had done so, the lined.
French naval Superiority would lObm the Admiral &c
not have been so fatal as it after- Hk S G Rodney and S S Hood
wards proved. His Lordship 12i read Extracts Pages 8, 9,
would have found plenty of Pro- and 10.
24 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
possibilitylara of it.2d* Finding, therefore, by Lord
Cornwallis's letters, that on his arrival in the Chesa-
peak, he had no plan of his own to propose,30*4^ and
that he did not incline to follow the one I had offered
to his consideration,5^ 6a<7s I recommended the taking
a respectable defensive station8f>9iklmnopqrs either at
Williamsburg, or York10b (the latter of which his
[ 21 ] Lordship had informed me in a letter, dated
26th of May, he was inclined, from the reports which
had been made to him, tollc think well of as a naval
station and place of arms)121 and left his Lordship at
liberty to keep all the troops he had in Virginia,
(amounting to about seven thousand men). But
thinking that he might well spare three thousand ; I
desired he would keep all that were necessary for a
respectable133 defensive, and desultory water move
ments, and send me14c of three thousand men all he
could.15bm*16b* His Lordship17amisconceiving18a my in-
lam possibility underlined. 9iklmnopqrs When Lord Corn-
2d & which was at last ap- wallis came into Virginia I left
proved by the King, alas too late ! !
3c at that season
4g at that advanced season in
such a climate
5b G. Phillips had been ordered
to follow it. Surely L. Cornwallis
being in his place should have
considered it as an order also.
6a and which the minister had
at last approved, alas too late.
7g and which the Corps he
joined in Chesapeak had been
ordered to carry into execution.
8f When L. Cornwallis came
into Virginia I left him to his
own plan finding he had none to
propose, I referred him to that
I had ordered G. Phillips to
pursue but as he did not approve
of that I desired him to take a
respectable defensive Station tell
ing him what sort of attack he
might expect in the hurricane
season.
finding
him to his own Plan
he had none to propose I re
ferred him to that I had ordered
Genl Phillips to pursue but as he
did not approve of that I desired
him to take a respectable defensive
Station.
10b The Heights of which had
been always represented as very
defensible.
He think well underlined.
121 which his Lordship as well
as every other Person must have
thought quite necessary.
13a preparing him for De
Grasse's arrival with troops.
14c of three thousand under
lined.
15bm spare
16b I positively assert, and the
Correspondence proves it, that his
Lordship never received any call
of mine for 3000 men but only
such part as he could spare from
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 25
tentionslc (as will, I trust, be manifest to whoever reads
our correspondence) and considering my call for three
thousand men as2a unconditional, tells me that he could
not with the remainder keep York and Gloucester ;
and that he should, therefore, repass James-river
and go to the station at Portsmouth. Which resolu
tion (I confess) surprised me, [ 22 ] as he had a litle
before, in the letter above quoted, represented that
post as unhealthy, and requiring an army to defend
it.3a* On receipt of his Lordship's letter, I immediately
consulted the Admiral, who was of of opinion, that
a naval station for large ships was absolutely neces
sary, and recommended Hampton-road. 4acd'5bm<6d'7c*
Therefore in my letter of the nth July,8h I9i directed101
his Lordship to examine and fortifyllb Old Point
Comfort,12h-13b'14d'15k which the Admiral and I thought
the above services before he
passed the James River 5th July
81.
17a misconceiving underlined.
18a as those who had will see.
lc my orders
2a unconditional underlined.
3a it seems it could not have
been much more unhealthy than
that he finally chose in prefer
ence, and it would have had this
advantage that he might at all
times have retired over the
roanoke or by Albemarle sound,
had he not stopt the building
of boats (which I had ordered}
owing to his mistaken oeconomy.
N. B. we have suffered so much
& so often from this sort of mis
taken oeconomy that I dread the
word in War. the best oeconomy
in every war is to finish it as
soon as you can.
4acd In James River
5bm Declaring that the Fleet
had better winter in Europe than
at Halifax.
6d declaring that the Fleet had
better go to Europe than to
Halifax
7c the first and only order I
ever gave his Lordp to secure a
Station for large ships.
8h The first order I gaveL Corn-
wallis to occupy a place of arms
covering a Station for line of
battle ships was that of July i ith
91 directed underlined.
10i and as Genl Leslie had in
formed me ordered him to prepare
privately to abandon on that
very account
lib Old Point Comfort under
lined.
12h in James River
13b which is the only Post his
Lordship had positive Orders to
occupy
14d Which is the only Post his
Lordship had My Orders to
occupy
15k the first & only order I
ever gave him to take a Station
for the purpose.
26
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
would cover that Eoad, and in which there had been
a fort for that purpose for fifty years, though probably
then in ruins. But his Lordship informing me in his
letter of the 27th of July, that it was the opinion
of the captains of the navy, the engineers, and
himself, that any works erected on Old Point
Comfort, " might be easily destroyed by a111 fleet,
" 2h-3i-4a and would not answer the purpose ; and
" that therefore, according to the5c spirit of my [ 23 ]
lil fleet underlined.
2h Ships approach End on
through a narrow channel a few
transports sunk leaving room to
warp in would have effectually
stopt the passage — it lay nearer
the entrance of Chesapeak than
Y. River, a retreat from thence
by Portsmouth & Albemarle
sound always practicable & as
an Enemys Fleet could not lay
in safety anywhere between it and
the harbour ours could always
go in and out even tho' inferior,
'tis plain the Station in York
River was not safe for a fleet
for the Enemy during the seige
destroyed every ship above water.
3i which fleet however might
easily have been prevented, by
sinking in a narrow channel 3 or
4 transports within reach of our
Guns leaving room for ships of
our own to warp through tho'
such obstructions could not be
removed by an Enemy on his
retreat that was soon done, but
if a work on Old Point Comfort
would not answer the purpose,
there was reason to suppose that
which Lord Cornwallis chose in
preference at York and Gloucester
would, or his Lordship should
have said so ; instead of which
read his letter of the 22<1 August
page 24 and subsequent compare
it with that of the 20 October
written after his Capitulation,
then say whether they could have
been supposed to be descriptive
of the same Post.
4a had these naval officers
examined the Channel leading to
Hampton road from sea, they
would have found it narrow, &
winding. & if 3 transports had
been held ready in ballast to have
been Sunk on the approach of
the Enemy that would most
effectually have stopt an enemys
Fleet tho our own might have
led in ship by ship, but I believe
these naval Gentlemen thought
it more comfortable to lay up at
York Town, than at Hampton in
James river & I suppose L. Corn
wallis had received such positive
assurances from the Cabinet that
he should have a covering Fleet
that he might have attended to
convenience of situation more
than to its safety or utility, for
certain it is that tho I put him
on his guard respecting probable
attempts dn his post not a spade
had been used to fortifye the
ground He stood seige on till
the French Armamt arrived,
except one redoubt to cover his
own quarter & another occupd
by the 23<i Regt.
5c spirit underlined.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 27
" order s,lb he should seize York and Gloucester, 2acdsh
" as the only harbour in which he could hope311 to
" be able to give effectual protection to line of battle
" ships ; " I supposed his Lordship had entirely
approved of those posts ; and that after examining
them with the officers of the King's ships and his
engineer, he would let me know if he should see
reason to alter his opinion ; and consequently I did
not object to the choice he had made ;4a'5k nor
indeed had I ever cause to do so before I saw his
letter of the 1 1 th of October, which I did not receive
until the i6th, the day before he offered to capitu
late, when for the first time I found his Lordship
thought unfavourably of them. For on the i6th of
August, his Lordship told me that he should apply
to the Commodore for a ship to send me a state of
things at York, and bring him back my commands ;
by which I was of course to understand that his
Lordship would send me his own and the Commo
dore's opi[ 24 Jnion of York and Gloucester,621 after his
lb objects to old point Com- supposing (what there is no doubt
fort in James River, takes York was the fact) that his Lordship
& Gloucester in York River in quitted his Exterior works de-
preference, scribed in his first letter, and
2acdgh in York River. stood seige in others calculated
3h read the above had he such for no other purpose but to cover
hopes. batterys he had raised in a hurry
4a in preference after the french fleet arrived,
5k In his letter of the 2 2 Augst when for the first time he seems
he says his Engineer had (after to have recollected my letter
1 8 days survey and Examination) preparing him for the arrival of
offered his plan for fortyfying de Grasse, better he had sunken
York side that to him it appear'd his transports across the channel
Judicious & he had order'd it to to stop any attempt of the fleet
be carried into execution that it & defended those works he had
would be finished in 6 weeks taught me to believe he would,
without any great labour to the he said he could defend as long
troops & he could spare 1200. as his provisions lasted, and
In describing the grounds after officers coming from him had de-
he had surrendered he says it was clared also he could,
commanded & infiladed, & his 6a as he had done of Hampton
works unfinished, how am I to road which He did as the reader
reconcile the two letters, but by will observe in his letter 22
28
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
engineer had made a most exact survey,lb which he
told me he was employed in, and of which I expected
a copy, as his Lordship had before sent me of the
one taken of Old Point Comfort. But not receiving
these from his Lordship, I naturally concluded that
the post of York and Gloucester was such as his
Lordship and the Commodore approved ; 2a especially,
as his Lordship, in his letter of the 22d of August,
was pleased to say, " the engineer has finished his
" survey and examination of this place, 3h-4i-5b (York)
" and has proposed his plan for fortifying it ; which
" appearing judicious, I have approved, and directed
"to be6k executed."7b>8k'9rn- And in the same letter
Augt & subsequent by which it
would seem the ground was
judiciously chosen, the Plan for
fortyfying it good, would be corn-
pleat in about 6 weeks & from
whose defence he could spare
1000 men.
lb as he had done that of Old
Point Comfort.
2a L. Cornwallis represents the
naval Station he had chosen in
preference in York River, as re
spectable, has fortify'd by a
Judicious Plan, after an exact
survey, will probably be compleat
about the 4th October & has
more men than necessary from
its defence.
3h after many days survey. In
short that the post was well
chosen to answer all purposes,
that it would be soon and well for
tified that he could defend it as
long as his provisions lasted, and
that the works would be com-
pleated in about 6 weeks and
when compleat ed he could spare
1000 men from.
4i York supposed to be forty-
fied after a Judicious Plan which
his Lordp approvd and ordered,
compleated without great labour
in six weeks or about the 2<1 of
October many days before the
Enemy broke ground and that
he could spare 1000 men from
the defence.
5b near 18 days making that
survey a judicious Plan for forti
fying it — which his Lordship
approves finished in six weeks
without any great labour of
troops, & when finished can
spare 1000 men from its defence.
6k executed underlined.
7b How does this correspond
with his Lordships subsequent
Description of the Ground &
Works in his Letter of the 2Oth
Octr p "A successful Defence in
" our situation was perhaps im-
" possible, for the Place could
" only be reckoned an intrenched
" Camp, subject in most places to
" infilade, & the Ground in
" general so disadvantageous."
8k "it will be finished in six
" weeks without any great labour
" of the troops & I shall be able
" to spare from its defence 1200
" men."
9m How does this agree with
his description of the ground &
works, he stood seige in as de-
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 29
it was farther implied, that through the exertion of the
troops, the works would probably be tolerably complete
in about six weeks from that period : u and from his
saying also in the same letter,2^ " I will not venture to
" [ 25 ] take any step that might retard the establish-
" ing this post. But I request that your Excellency will
" please to decide whether it is most important for
64 your plans, that a detachment of a thousand or
u twelve hundred men3m (which I think I can spare
" from every other purpose but that of labour) should
" be sent to you from hence, or that the whole of the
" troops41 here should continue to be employed in
" expediting the5k works,")6a'7b>8k I naturally con
cluded that his Lordship had not only sufficient to
complete his works by the time he mentioned, but
that he could spare that number from the defence of
them afterwards. His Lordship's letter of the 2Qth
of September moreover told me, " I have no doubt, if
"relief arrives in any9abcm reasonable time,10b<lld that
scribed in his letter of the 2oth
Octr accg for the misfortune,
repeat :
11 with respect to my engaging
in any other operation than that
of a direct move to York river
on board the Fleet when it
should be ready to convey me 1
could not do it without the
greatest impropriety as all the
Genls particularly Lord Corn-
wallis and all the Admirals
declared it was the only one ; but
if I had had he wished to have
engaged in any other I had not
the means for I could not have
taken the field with above 4000
men.
2g Compare this letter with
that of the 2oth October.
3m and that he could when
they were finished spare 1000
men from the defence.
4i the whole troops were con
tinued with his Lordship's & he
had besides a great number of
negroes.
5k works underlined.
6a not a man was taken or
called for.
7b not a man was taken from
him.
8k I did not take a man from
him.
9abcm reasonable time under
lined.
10b As his Lordship had before
implied that he could hold out as
long as his Provisions (of which
he had enough to last to the latter
End of Novr) Sir H. C. might rea
sonably suppose that any Time in
October might be considered as
corresponding with his Lordships
Ideas of a reasonable Time.
lid I had reason to think from
L. Cornwallis & certain Officers
of rank who I had ordered to
30 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
" both York and Gloucester will be in possession of
"his Majesty's1* troops ; "2a.3h.4i-5k.6m an(j again? that
of the 3d of October, " My works are in a better state
"of defence than [26] we had reason to hope." In
short, I think his Lordship appears to have implied in
all his letters,76 (except that of the i yth8*1 of Sep
tember, the day he heard from Lieutenant Conway of
the navy, that Mons. De Grasse, by the junction of
Monsieur de Barras,9c had thirty-five or thirty-six sail
of the line) that he could hold out as long as his
provisions lasted — which was, by his Lordship's own
calculation, to the end of October at least.
From all these circumstances, I had flattered
join me from his army that he
should be able to hold out
against 20,000 men even ! & a
train in proportion at least 3
weeks.
Ik troops underlined.
2a His Lordship had been pre
pared by S. H. C. for a seige.
He had told S. H. C. that He
could hold out as long as his pro
visions Certain officers of Rank
had said he could do so 3 weeks,
but He capitulated in 7 or 8
days open trenches.
3h he had frequently imply'd
that he could hold out as long as
his provisions & that these would
hold to the end of Octr at least,
therefore judged that any time
within that Period would be the
reasonable time he mentions.
4i and even when he knew the
force &c brought against him
he told me he could defend them
a reasonable time as in all his
letters previous to this he had
implied he could hold out as long
as his provisions, & all those
officers who left him declared the
same or for 3 weeks, and as by
his own account his provisions
would last till the end of October
at least, I judged that reasonable
time to be any within the month
of October, & I had not a doubt
of being with him by the middle,
but his Lordship was forced (in
a Post described as above) to
extremity in 7 days open
trenches.
5k and in a former letter that
he should be able to hold out as
long as his provisions lasted,
which with care would last to
the end of Octr.
6m as he had before imply'd
he could hold out as long as his
provisions to the latter end of
Octr even, I might naturally
suppose that any time in Octr
might be considered as reason
able.
7b & which I did not receive
till the 23rd Sepr.
8h on this day he had discovered
the great superiority of the
French Fleet, & seemed uneasy,
but in subsequent letters seems
to have no doubt of holding
out
9c Who was not in the action
of the 5th Sepr
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
myself, that the works at York would have been
tolerably complete by the gth of October,lct2m the
day Mr. Washington opened his batteries against
them : and from the opinion given me by certain
officers of rank,3a'4c-5S'6h'7i-8k who had lately come
from Lord Cornwallis at York,9b I was under no
apprehensions for his Lordship before the latter end
of that month ; as I could not conceive that the
enemy could possibly bring against him [ 27 ] such
a powerful battering train as would demolish his
defences (such as I had reason to hope they would
be) in so short a space of time as nine orlok ten
days<llk.l2b.
Although I never gave Lord Cornwallis assurances of
the exertions of the navy before my letter of the 24th
of Septembsr,13*'1411-150-16'111111^13'1^-181'1915-204^^ I did
it in consequence of a council of war, composed of flag
lc 7 weeks subsequent to his
Letter 22 August.
2ni 7 weeks from the 22<1 Augt.
3a Co] Con way Major Veimar
Col Bose Hessian
4c Col de Barras Col Conway
Maj G. Veimar who declared an
opinion " that L. Cornwallis
" could hold in the exterior posi-
" tion (in which they left him
" 26th Augt) for 3 weeks against
20,000 men and artillery in pro
portion."
5g Col Conway Major G. Vei
mar a Hessian Colonel &c in
formed the Council of War that
in their opinion L. Cornwallis
then occupying the Exterior
position could hold out against
20,000 and a proble artillery &c
for 3 weeks.
6h they all declared in Council
" that he could hold out in the
"exterior position 3 weeks against
" 20,000 men &c &c.
7i These all declared before
a council of General and Flag
officers on the 16 Sepr that
they thought L. Cornwallis could
hold the post 3 weeks against
an army of 20,000 and a propor
tionable Artillery.
8k Col Conway, Major Veimar
a Col of Bose Regt & other
officers declared before the Coun
cil of war he could defend those
works against 20,000 men 3
weeks.
9b These officers informed me
in Council that his Lordship was
fortifying the exterior position &
that he would be able to defend
himself 3 weeks against 20,000
men, & a proportionable artillery.
10k ten days underlined.
Ilk 7 days open trenches.
12b His Lordship was reduced
to extremity 8 days open trenches.
13a As he asserted but has since
acknowledged was without foun
dation.
14b as he asserts I did in his
letter 20 octr but acknowledges
I did in that of the 2^ Deer.
32 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
and general officers ; I certainly never gave his Lord
ship the least reason to suppose they would not be
made; as I always took it for granted, la before
Admiral Graves's letter to me of the 9th of2km
September, 3b-4i'5k>6m-70 that our fleet was superior to
that of the enemy. Nor, indeed, did I know before
I received Lord Cornwallis's letter of the lyth,
(which was not until the 23d of September) that
the enemy had thirty-six sail of the line, or that
Monsieur de Barras had not already joined
Monsieur de Grasse before the action of the 5th
of September. 8a>9i* But even against this superi
ority, great as it was, the Admirals [ 28 ] were
clearlylob>llc of opinion, that a joint attempt should
be made by us to succour the fleet and army in the
Chesapeak.12a'13b'14s-15h-16i-17k-18m- 1 certainly, therefore,
15c as he asserts in his of the
2Oth October but in that of the
2d Dec acknowledges not to be
true.
IGflmnopqrs as he asserts in his
of the 2Qth October
1 7g as he asserts I did
181 as he asserts in his of the
2Oth October, but acknowledges
in that of the 2<i of Deer page 71
was not the^case.
19k As He asserts in his of the
20th October and owns in that of
the 2<i Deer he was not justified
in doing
20d and even after the 24 Sepr
when I knew our Fleet was in
ferior - I had not the least
doubt from the opinion of the
Admiral that we could force the
Enemys Fleet at anchor in
Chesapeak & that the troops
under my command might be
landed in York river as L. Corn-
wallis had desired.
la we should have a covering
Fleet and
2km September underlined.
3b which I did not receive
before the 23d
4i reed the igth
5k which I received the 16.
6m which I reed the 23d
7o which I did not receive till
the iQth.
8a the Admiral thought also
that the two French Fleets had
joined & were in the action.
9i and been in it.
10b & unanimously
He the unanimous opinion of
the Admirals in Council was that
the British Fleet could pass that
of France at anchor, and by
bringing up near York river put
the troops ashore and further of
opinion that having the advan
tage of springs on cable which
the Enemy could not avail
themselves of in the outer posi
tion, their Fleet would not
attempt ours particularly so near
the mouth of York river.
12a and could be done without
great risk, to force the Enemy
Fleet at anchor & land me after-
SIB HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
33
never could have hinted to his Lordship that their
exertions would not be made. The whole of this
matter may, I think, be summed up as follows :
Lord Cornwallis's march into Virginia,11 + without
consulting his Commander in Chief, 2inpq-3i.4k.5m.6o.7c
forced us into solid operation in that province.
wards in the York River where
Lord Cornwallis repeatedly in
vited me to come.
13b Which might have been
done without great Risk by forcing
the Enemys Line at anchor in
the Chesapeak as all agreed they
could not in such a tidesway
avail themselves of the spring
on their cables.
14g there is no doubt if Lord
Cornwallis had held out till we
arrived, or we had sailed sooner
but I should have joined his
Lordship and the probable con
sequence Washington disbanding
his army, read his letter, tho our
Fleet was very inferior it was
the opinion of the Admirals that
we might have passed that of
the Enemy at an anchor in the
mouth of the Chesapeak, as the
Enemy in such a tide's way could
not avail themsvs of the springs
on their Cables.
15h that the French Fleet at
anchor in chesapeak could not
avail themselves of the springs
on their Cables & that therefore
an inferior Fleet might pass
them with some advantage even ;
& occupying a Station, near the
entrance of York river where
they could use their springs, &
conseqtly for reasons obvious a
superior Fleet would not attempt
them, they could land the troops,
which when landed might easily
have joined Lord Cornwallis &
perhaps had nothing to fear but
something to hope against Mr.
W. even in the field.
16i nor did these Admirals in
Council seem to have the least
Idea that we should meet with
any difficulty in passing the
Enemys Fleet anchored in a situ
ation where they could not avail
themselves of the springs on
their Cables, or that our Fleet
could not afterwards draw up
near the entrance of York River,
where it could have had that
advantage nor that there would
be any difficulty in putting the
troops ashore or much to appre
hend perhaps on the contrary
something to hope even in the
Field against Washn Motley Corps.
17k As the Admirals were of
opinion that the French Fleet
tho superior being at anchor in
an exterior exposed Position in
Chesapeak bay could not avail
themselves of the springs on
their Cables, so that we might
pass broadside for broadside take
up an interior Position near York
River where we could.
18m & might be done without
great risk either of or in an
action, or by forcing through
theirs & avoiding ours.
liknopq without to Chief under
lined.
2inpq Sir H : C : should have
said contrary to his Orders.
3i It will appear that I never
called for 3000 but of that num
ber as many as L. Cornwallis
34
CLINTON-CORN WJLLIS CONTROVERSY
Being there, as his Lordship could not subsist his
armyld without having a place of arms to cover his
magazines, &c. &c. &c. it became absolutely necessary
to fix on some healthy and respectable station,2d that
could be made secure against a3a temporary superiority
of the enemy at sea ;4b'5d and York and Gloucester
seem to have been originally thought of by Lord
Cornwallis, and approved by me6d for that purpose.
But by his Lordship's misconceiving my orders, he
could spare ; nor was he justified
in sending these but certainly
not so in quitting Williamsberg
neck till he had read my letters of
4k Sir H : C : should have
said contrary to his orders, and
contrary to his own promises read
S H Clintons orders to him ist
June 80. His Lordship's letter
to Leslie & Lord Rawdon's letter
to Lord Cornwallis informing his
Lordship of the opinion Balfour
had given him & which it was
his duty he no doubt had given
to Lord Cornwallis that not ex
pecting Lord Cornwallis would
ever have exposed, S. Carolina
or Chas Town he had thrown
down the old works & till they
were raised that Place was risked
N.B Lord Cornwallis did or ought
to have known this when he
began his march into Virginia
but so determined was his Lord
ship to go into Virginia,(ff earing I
luas desirous of quitting the Com
mand fy wishing to be within my
reach} that I am clear nothing
could have stopt him otherwise
the very reasons he gives for
going operate agt it ; & my
dispatches which were laying at
C. Town from the 6th of April to
the 24th had his Lordship received
them, instead of inviting him
into Virginia forbid his going,
but those dispatches, nor copies
nor the substance of them Col
Balfour did not send tho he had
many & safe opportunities —
5m had the Enemy been supe
rior in the bay for 48 hours, his
Lordship was liable to be cruelly
insulted unless he had a place of
arms to cover frigates, trans
ports &c at least.
60 I may say contrary to my
orders and his own promises.
7c Now I must say contrary to
orders.
Id Washington with all the
exertions of the country for him
could not subsist his army, how
could L. C. risk those exertions
against him read Washingtons
letter 26 Sept to De Grasse
2d for if he had not we should
have only held a small station.
3a temporary underlined.
4b Had the Enemy been superior
in the Bay only 48 Hours his Lord
ship was liable to Insult unless he
had a Place of Arms to cover at
least Frigates, Transports &c.
5d Had the Enemys Fleet been
superior in Chesapeak Bay only
48 hours His Lordship might
have lost Frigates Depots &c &c
unless he had secured a Place of
Arms to cover them.
6d when he proposed it in pre
ference.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
35
quitted the Neck of York, and consequently [ 29 ]
relinquished every idea of occupying those posts.
Soon afterwards, the Admiral thinking a naval
station111 for large ships absolutely necessary, and
recommending Hampton Road,2ac I directed3a Lord
Cornwallis to examine and4s fortify Old Point
Comfort in James River ;5a'6c but his Lordship not
approving of that station, made choice of York and
Gloucester.7acdsh-8i'9b-
I perfectly agree with Lord Cornwallis, that to
abandon his posts, after he had once fixed himself,
(although by doing so he might save101 part of his
army)111 would have been12bm disgraceful, nay, perhaps
fatal to our future prospects of establishment in the
Chesapeak, when such a measure should be author
ised by a covering fleet. But even that misfortune,
great as it may be represented, would have been
preferable to the one which happened ; and therefore
I told his Lordship, in a13c conversation140-1511-161'175
la for large ships underlined.
2ac in James River
3a directed underlined.
4g fortify underlined.
5a to secure Hampton Road
6c to cover H. R.
Tacdgh In York River
8i in preference
9b which tho I had ever ap
proved of them as a healthy
respectable situation and place of
arms I had never consider'd as a
station to cover line of battle
ships.
10i part underlined.
Hi losing frigates transports,
Gallies Gun Boats, heavy Can
non, Stores &c &c &c &c and
leaving behind sick wounded &
all his friends, all which must have
been sacrificed whenever we had
been found in chesapeak bay
either witht a respectable place
of arms to cover ships also, or
on our quitting any such ; I
therefore never blamed his Lord
ship so much for not quitting
that which he had chosen, as I
did for forcing solid operation in
a district where it was absolutely
necessary to have a Place of arms
when he knew preservation de
pended on a naval superiority.
12bm disgraceful underlined.
13c conversation underlined.
14c in which Conn I do aver
that he tacitly or formally ac
knowledged that there were many
insinuations and assertions in his
letter of the 2Qth October wch
could not be supported, that it
was written under great agitation
of mind, & might contain some
mistakes. He spoke in hand
somest terms of my exertions &
those of the army, & finished by
saying, " I would not have come
into Virginia had I not had hopes
36 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
I had with himla before I sent his Ietter2d of the
2Oth of October to be printed at New York, I had
conceived [ 30 ] hopes, that between the time of
the French fleet's arriving in the Chesapeak, and his
receiving information from me that Sir Samuel Hood
had joined Mr. Graves, which was not until the i3th
of September,31101^ or between that time and the
junction of Mr. Washington with the Marquis De
la Fayette, when his Lordship heard from Lieu
tenant Conway of the navy, that the enemy were
thirty-six sail of the line, he would have tried to
of a covering Fleet, I knew the
danger without it, we were pro
mised it by the minister & ad
miral we had it not.
15h and in which convern His
Lordship either tacitly or form
ally acknowledged that his letter
had been written in a hurry, &
that it did contain insinuations
nay assertions, which he was con
vinced could not be supported.
16i In this conversation / do
aver that Lord Cornwallis did ac
knowledge either tacitly, or di
rectly thus that the Post of
York & Gloucester was his own
choice in preference — 2 that he
had never given me any reason to
think unfavourably of that Post
till the day before his capitula
tion honestly owned " he had
done wrong " if he had said I
gave him any promises or assur
ances of the exertions of the
navy till in my letter of the 24th
which he had not reed till the
29^ at night, and when he had
said I had told him the fleet
would sail about the 5th October
he owned that my words were
only that there was every reason
to hope it would sail.
17b In this Conversation His
Lordship then tacitly or form
ally acknowledged that most of
the insinuations nay assertions in
his letter of the 20 of October
were not quite so correct as they
should be, that the letter was
written under a great agitation
of mind, & that there might be
mistakes, but neither his Lord
ship nor the minister took any
pains to explain on his Lordships
arrival in England, I had too
much liberality, to press his Lord
ship more while at N. York, than
is contained in my letter of the
2d & 10 Deer on page 71 Narra
tive.
la before underlined.
2d at his desire
Siknpq St Simon landed from
the french fleet the I3th with
3000 french Troops reported raw
& sickly. La Fayette had about
1 200 continental Troops. As it
is an object of Consequence to
beat an Army en detail coming to
besiege you, 'tis to be lamented
Ld Cornwallis could not attack
these Corps separate or joined ;
if he had, no attempt could after
wards have been made by W —
Lord Cornwallis had full 6000
as good Troops as any in the
World, the Enemy all together
exclusive Militia had not 5000.
SIR HENEY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 37
escape with part of his army to the southward ; a
step which certainly would have beenld justifiable,
2d>3k-4b although in the conversation alluded to, his
Lordship did not seem to think it would, unless I had
given him assurances that the navy could not attempt
to succour him ; which assurances, however, I cer
tainly could not possibly have given him.5a*6c*7k>8b<9c'
If, therefore, Lord Cornwallis's letter of the 2Oth
of October, giving an account of the unfortunate con
clusion of the campaign, by the surrender of York
Town, (Appendix, [ 31 ] No. VIII. lobd) could ever
have been understood110 to imply120 that13c the posts of
York and Gloucester14bh were not his Lordship's own
choice, in preference to Old Point Comfort, 15bh which
I had16h'17h recommended to him;18h'19° or that200 I
had ever received information from his Lordship, that
the ground at either was unfavourable,2113 till the
day before he had offered to capitulate ; or that I
had ever given him220 any assurances230 of the exer-
ld justifiable underlined. could join Lord Cornwallis, how
2d so says Washington to de could I.
Grasse. 9c How.
3k read Washingtons letter to lObd Page 64.
De Grasse Page 55. Ho to imply underlined.
4b read Washingtons letter 26 12o they Certainly do.
Sepr to Degrasse respecting the 13c changing the naval Station
propriety & practicability of his from James River to York River
Lordships doing so, before he had or
assembled his army & invested him 14bh in York River
5a I had often represented the 15bh in James River
danger of opems in Chesapeak 16h recommended to run
without a Fleet by minister and through.
Admirals. S. S. Hood assured me 17h ordered him.
he had it, how then could I give 18h to take
L. Cornwallis such assurances. 19o or that underlined.
6c at any time. 20o that also
7k How could I after the assur- 21 b " the works liable to be
ances I had reed of a covering commanded or infiladed."
Fleet. 22o any assurances underlined.
8b after being assured we had a 23o this he positively asserts, in
superior fleet or even with an his letter 20 October altho he
inferior that we could force it -at acknowledges his mistake in that
anchor, that I could be landed & of 2d Deer.
38 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
tions of the navy,lh before my letter to him of the
24th of2k September,31* which he acknowledges4bd
he did not receive till the 2Qth ; or that any assur
ances whatsoever given by me could have prevented
his attacking the Marquis De la Fayette, before Mr.
Washington joined that General, which was on the
27th of September ;5c*6a I am persuaded it will
appear that those implications713111 are not founded on
any orders8f-9s-loi-llh-12b I gave his Lordship,13d and
cannot be supported by any part of ouruk correspon-
dence.15k-16m-17b<18c-19a- And as I took an opportunity
of telling his Lordship the [ 32 ] same,20a'21c in a
letter I sent him before he sailed from New-York,
dated the 2d and loth of December (which letter,22bd
lh or told him the Fleet would
sail the 5th.
2k September underlined.
3k written in Council of
Generals and admirals.
4bd Page 69.
5c all which he has either
imply'd or asserted.
6a That he had not the least
foundation for these implications
or assertions.
7bm or assertions.
8f a civil way of telling his
Lordship that many of his Insin
uations & some of his assertions
are false.
9g in other words, if such asser
tions or implications are made,
they are made without the least
foundation.
10i In short in the language of
a Gentleman if his Lordship has
said so and his Lordship certainly
has said so or implyed it, I say
in the language of a Gentleman
such assertions, such implications
are not true.
Hh in short are not True.
12b In short in the language
becoming my high Station at
the time, and in that of a Gen
tleman I tell his Lordship that
those insinuations, and assertions
are false —
13d this in the language of a
Gentleman and Comr in Chief, but
in other words, are Contrary to
Fact I told him so in our Con
versation togetr at New York &
he either tacitly or formally
owned it.
14k correspondence underlined.
15k does not this civilly tell his
Lordship that if there are such
assertions in his letter, that they
are not true,
16m every Officer every Gentle
man nay whoever reads this must
conceive my meaning tho I avoid
telling his Lordship grossly that
he asserted what was false, it yet
must be understood that I in the
civilest way possible tell him so.
17b Consequently are not true.
18c in other words are not true.
19a indeed he now owns it
20a in Conversation &
21c first in Conversation at N.
York then.
22bd Page 71.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
39
however, did not appear when this part of our corre
spondence was produced before the House of Lords)
la.2b.3fklopqrs.4m.5n.6i.7c.8h J cannot doubt Ms LoidsMp is
convinced that what I therein asserted is right.9b*
Lord Cornwallis was pleased to tell me that his
letter of the 2Oth of October,lobd was written under
great agitation of mind and in a great hurry. lld'12a-13d'
No man could possibly feel for his Lordship, and his
dreadful situation, more than I did. And I will
venture to say, no man could be more anxious, or would
have gone greater lengths to succour him. Nor will
this, I trust, be doubted, when it is recollected that
the proposal first came from me for embarking
I4acgi.i5fimnrs.i6k sjx thousand men for that purpose on
la tho his Lordships in answer occur to their Lordships at the
to it was called for and read in
the House of Lords.
2b tho his Lordship forced the
reading of his answer to it in the
House of Lords, present himself
& my letter in his Pocket.
Sfklopqrs tho when he called
for his to be read he had mine
which was an answer to it in his
pocket.
4m Tho' when he called for his
to be read in Parliament he had
mine which was an answer to it
in his pocket.
5n Tho' when he called for his
to be read he had two, one mine
which was an answer to it & the
other was not in his pocket.
6i Tho when he called for his
to be read he had mine to which it
was an answer to it in his Pocket,
and which was not produced in
the house of Lords, nor did the
minister produce either that I
wrote to him on the same subject
and had desired him to publish.
7c on the Contrary he desired
Lord Townsend to call for the
answer to it in the House of Lords
the impropriety of which did not
time.
8h Lord Townsend called by
Lord Cornwallis's desire for his
Lordships answer to this letter
to be read in the House of Lords
but did not call f or S H C letter
9b His Lordship acknowledged
it in the Conversation alluded to,
said the conduct of the army
under my command had been
most honourable indeed.
lObd Page 70.
lid and he said further that if
he " had in that letter " said I
had " given him assurances of
" the exertions of the Navy
" before the 24 Sept which he
" had received on the 29th only
" he had done wroncj " / / /
12a His Lordship may add that
feeling how very reprehensable
his Conduct had been throughout
this whole business, He had been
advised by evil councillors to
write this letter.
13d He does not of course deny
it. But -
14acgi in Person with
ISflmnrs myself with
16k with
40 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
board an inferior fleet of twenty-seven sail of the
line, including two fifties, to thirty-six ; and thereby
putting the fate [ 33 ] of the American war on the joint
exertions of the fleet and army, to relieve that noble
Lord and his gallant corps.
I have to lament that these exertions could not
have been made in time. All the Admirals seemed
of opinion at the council of war of the 24th September
that there was every reasonlf+ to hope21^'30'4™ that
the fleet would be ready to sail on the 5th of October. 5d*
The troops intended for the expedition had been for
some time in readiness to embark, and did actually
do so early in October.611' It seemed also to be the
general opinion of the Admirals, that the enemy,
although superior in number, could not obstruct75
the8c channel to York-river, so as to9b prevent the
passage105 of our fleet, much less both passages of the
Chesapeak.11^ Could the troops, which embarked
under my immediate command, have been put on
shore on the Gloucester side,12a a junction with13b the
part of Lord Cornwallis's corps on that side [ 34 ]
was easy : but if they had been put on shore, even in
Ifiklmnopqrs to hope underlined, the impracticability of, and as
2iknpq His Lordship says I had often requested to him to retire
given him assurances that they from
would sail about the 5th. 5d of this intended exertion &
3o his Lordship calls it assur- of the projected move to Rhode
ances in his letter of the 20 octr Island his Lordship spoke highly
4m for tho it was the opinion at our first Interview,
of the admirals that there was 6h unanimous,
little danger in making the June- 7b the to as to run through.
tion as far as regarded the fleet, 8c great.
I might have contented myself 9b Or
with sending the reinforcement 10b of to passages run through.
but the fact is I notg the inf eri- 1 lg that in such a tide's way
ority of our fleet thought that they could not avail themselves of
after making a junction I should the springs on the Cables or pre-
oblige W. to retire & when I had vent an inferior Fleet passing
relieved L. C. I had resolved them.
to go immediately to England, 12a where I was repeatedly
quitting a command I had been invited by his Lordship to come,
forced into, repeatedly held out 13b the part of run through.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 41
James River, although a junction with his Lordship
in York would have been scarcelylkpracticable,2c'3a*4k
it might have been made in some other part;51
or at least such diversions might have been made by
the troops under my command as might have saved
part of his Lordship's corps, (Appendix, No. XL)
I must, therefore, repeat that I lament, and ever
shall, that those exertions could not have been made
in time. Because, from the professional merit of the
Admirals who were to conduct us, and from the zeal
which appeared so conspicuous when I proposed the
move to them ; and which, from their example was6c
communicated to all ranks in the fleet ; and with
which, 7c it is to be presumed, those of the army kept
fully equal pace ; I have every reason to think we
should have had most complete success. 8s*9d-
[35 ]10c+But at the same time, that truth compels
me to impute our misfortunes ultimately to the want
of alla covering fleet in the Chesapeak, I think it right
to declare that, as a land officer, I do not feel myself
a competent judge of the propriety and practicability
of naval operations. 12g-13d- Nor can I, as a servant of
Ik practicable underlined. forward the Catastrophe of York
2c after he had given up the Town, and lost America. Lord
exterior Position Cornwallis for going into Vir-
3a after he had quitted his ex- ginia contrary to the orders of
terior position, and given to the S H Clinton, and forcing opera-
Enemy what commanded in a tions there, and Lord Rodney
near advance all the rest of his for not going into Virginia and
Works Vide Washn letter. covering such operations accord-
4k after he had retired from ing to orders.
what he calls his Exterior posi- 9d wishing to keep the navy in
tion & had given the Enemy the good humour I always gave them
Key to that he held. their full share of merit on all
5i & had it been made it may occasions.
be presumed that 13. or 14000 lOcghmno But at to the empire
such troops had little to appre- (n lines) run through.
hend perhaps something to hope Ha promised,
against Wasns mottley army. 12g I was promised a covering
6c of course Fleet and a reinforcement. But
7c pace if the Minister had told me I was
8g a very few words will point neither to expect the one or the
out the causes which brought other, I should have taken a
6
42 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the State, entrusted with an important, but partial
command, presume to enter into the counsels of
Ministers; who, from a more elevated station, survey
and balance the whole system of the campaign, and
the general safety and welfare of the empire.*li-2a>3d-4c-
5g-6h.7m.8h.9a.10b.
*Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain, 30 April 1781, see
Letter p 446.
respectable defensive at New
York, at a Period of the war
when negative Victory would
have ended American Indepen
dence.
13d But now that I know facts I
do blame and highly blame that
Cabinet who rejected the Plan of
the Comr in chief which they had
before approved and did again
approve alas too late ! and forced
him to adopt another which he
represented & they knew the
danger of without a covering
fleet -
li this paragraph is a cavil
I. 2. 3 introduced by a friend
of the Cabinet who revised my
Narve it had been better left out,
it appeared unknown to me.
2a This was slipt in witht my
intention I think His Majty
Cabinet highly culpable for forc
ing the Plan of a Subaltern
General made on partial Infor
mation. I say our Fleet in the
West Indies was equal to that of
the Enemy, that it had been
ordered, promised, and had it
acted must have saved America.
All this Lord Rodney acknow
ledged to me.
3d this was put in by a friend
of the ministers I did not object
tis true.
4c nonsense
5g nonsense slipped in un
awares
6h nonsense slipped in by a
friend of the then Cabinet.
7m nonsense introduced by a
friend to the minister.
8h I mean for Ever to declare
that to the Cabinets having given
a preference to the Plans of a
second in Command made on
partial information to that of a
Comr in chief only as informa
tion till too late serve in great
measure to impute the loss of
that Campaign & of America.
Lord North, Lord G. Germain,
Thurlow Lord Chancellor. Lord
Sandwich, Lord Amherst, Lord
Gower the last not least — to
these the thanks of the Nation
are due in great part for the loss
of America
9a The short Fact therefore
stands Thus. Lord Cornwallis
for going into Virginia, Contrary
to the orders of S. H Clinton,
the Comr in Chief, and forcing
Operations where they could not
be protected except by a Fleet,
and Lord Rodney for not going
to Virginia with his Fleet and
protecting such operation as He
acknowledges He had been ordered
and had promised to do. I
should insult the understanding
of any man particularly that of
a military man if I was to ask
him whether S H Clinton can be
responsable for operations He
was ordered to support — had
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
43
[ 36 ] Upon the whole, I am persuaded, that had I
been left to my own plans, and a proper confidence had
been earlier reposed in me, the campaign of 1781
would not probably have ended unfortunately. lb-2f*
But though that apparent want of confidence was
at last removed,* and the fullest approbation I could
[ 37 ] wisn given to the operations I had projected,
my knowledge of the change happened too late to
extricate me from the consequences of Lord Corn-
wallis's ill-fated march into Virginia, and the orders
3s they had probably occasioned.4a>5d- Foreseeing
many of the evils which would result from this fatal
move the instant I heard of it,6b I immediately at
* Extract Lord George Germain to Sir Henry Clinton, 7 July 1781,7*).
see Letter ii. 45.
represented the danger of witlit
a Fleet & had been promised that
Fleet, Operations, He did all he
could, to render secure & succour
when in danger.
lOb by neglect of Govt I was 3
times within 3 weeks of Starving
lb Had Lord Cornwallis staid
in Carolina as I had ordered him
& I had even assembled my Force
at N. York & remained there
with my arms across without
affront, negative victory would
have insured American Depen
dence.
2f Till Lord Cornwallis Glorious
and important Victory of Camp-
den I had the most unreserved
Confidence of ministers, but from
the month of Octr 80 to July 81
they seemed by their conduct to
transfer it to Lord Cornwallis &
could I have resigned to him I
certainly would have done so per
haps he thought so himself, and
was his only motive for not read
ing my dispatches of the 20 &
21 March, and going contrary to
every opinion but his own into
Virginia to be near me, but
L. G. G. letters 7th i4th July
will show how soon the ministers
repented the confidence they had
placed in L. Cornwallis.
3g they had probably run
through, and it had certainly
substituted.
4a from his Majty Cabinet
5d I now say certainly occa
sioned
6b and had read Rochambeaus
intercepted cypher letter to Lu-
zerne, inclosing to him his secret
orders from the French King,
to Cajole the Americans, says no
more troops positively are to be
sent, these then probably with
drawn, & cautions Rochambeau
from separating his army for
reasons of distress after Arnolds
detection and also on their finding
New York & not Chesapeak was
Washingtons & Rochs object,
there is no doubt but that L.
Corriws advised operations in Vir
ginia, & gave false hopes to the
Cabinet of success there and that
in consequence of these hopes my
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
time communicated my
44
the
American Minister. lbd-2g- And
the 1 8th of July 1781 speaks
other matters, of which I fear
hitherto equally misinformed, I
to conclude this Narrative with
from it :3a.4d.5i-6b
apprehensions to the
as my letter to him of
very fully on this and
the public has been
shall take the liberty
the following extract
plan was rejected till too late &
I was order to support Lord
Cornwallis.
7b which S. H. Clinton re
ceived in Sept.
Ibd Page 107.
2g which he sent me word by
Col. Con way He had laid before
the King, with this opinion that
many of my Prophecies had come
to pass, & he feared they all
would.
3a The K. in his closet, his con
versation with the Duke of New
castle, Mr. Gerard Hamilton what
passed between Lord Lothian
and him & Lord G. Germain's
message to me of the- 4th De
cember 8 1 by Col Conway with
his letters of the 7th & 1/j.th July,
all convince me that the whole
of Lord Cornwallis Conduct from
his march into North Carolina in
January 81 to the Catastrophe
of York Town and his loth,
article of Capitulation had met
with His Majtys fullest Disappro
bation as well as that of His
Minister Lord G. Germain nay
finally that of the whole Cabi
net. The good Earls Zeal, (I
shall not call it ambition) often
outran his Prudence. Thus it
was in August 80 He invited the
Loyalists of N. Carolina rise,
promised to march and protect
them, not recollecting the danger
of doing so at that season, lost
great part of his army by sick
ness & Ferguson's Corps whom
he had contrary to promise to
me, left in an exposed situation
unsustained was obliged to retire
fo'mself all but disgracefully sacri
ficed Friends in North Carolina,
& Ferguson misfortune (who had
commanded the Militia of S.
Carolina) made, as his Lordship
acknowledged to me, such an im
pression in that Province & threw
it back in Rebellion. Thus it
was again in January 81. when
having ordered part of the works
of C. Town to be leveUed, &
when that Place so very particu
larly recommended to his care
was open and exposed, & without
reporting to me. When he had
lost all his light Troops at Cow-
pens and not withstanding he
had assured me a month before
that these poor people had not
given sufficient evidence of their
Zeal or numbers for him to risk
S. Carolina had destroyed all his
waggons and Consequently lost
the means of making a solid
move into N. Carona He proceeds
loses half his army : gains a vic
tory after which his own losses
sickness and wants oblige him to
fly before the beaten army nor
does he fall back on South
Carolina & C. Town, in its dis
mantled state & which He had
been ordered to consider as the
" Primary object " but to Wil
mington, & from thence as here
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
45
[ 38 ] lg " I can say little more to your Lordship's
sanguine hopes of the speedy reduction of the southern
provinces, than to lament that the present state of the
war there does not altogether promise so flattering
an event. Many untoward incidents, of which your
Lordship was not apprised, have thrown us too far back
to be able to recover very soon, even what we have
lately lost there. For if (as I have often before
suggested) the good-will of the inhabitants is abso
lutely requisite to retain a country, after we have
conquered it; I fear it will be sometime before
we can recover the confidence of those in Carolina, as
their past sufferings will of course make them cautious
of publicly forwarding the King's interests before
there is the strongest certainty of his army being in
related, marches a third time
into Virginia contrary to orders
&c. &c.
4d Page 109
5i tis presumed the Majority
of that Cabinet preferred L. Corn-
wallis conditions to those of S.H.C.
S. H. told them truths, some of
them very disagreeable and did
not give them hopes that with
a reduced army he would conquer
America without the assistance of
friends ; tis presumed L. Corn-
wallis did ; judging of the whole
continent by those Gentry he
had had opposed to him in the
Carolinas : his Lordship who
seems to have been willing to
take more of the responsibility
on himself than S H C could with
consistency do. S. H. 0. called
for reinforcements L. C. perhaps
said he had enough. Lord Amherst
of course tho he could not prefer
L. Corns Plan preferred his Lord
ship for strange as it may ap
pear tho Lord Amherst refused
to take the command unless he
had 20000 addition & before the
French had joined, after they had
& instead of 20000 added S H C
had been deprived of above i oooo
this noble Lord wrote to L. G G.
saying that it was his opinion
that if proper attention was
paid to the compleating the pro
vincials we had troops Enough ;
Lord Sandwich ever considered
the american war as secondary
after the French interfered, his
Lordship liked also L C condi
tions best, & perhaps he was not
pleased that S H C should dare
to disapprove of any admiral he
had judged proper to send to the
american Station Lord Chancellor
& Lord Gower seem to have
thought of nothing but the terms
L C. is supposed to have offerd,
& perhaps Lord Mansfield may
have joined them sometimes, but
it seems all agreed alas too late,
in readopting S H Clintons Plan.
6b N° 109
lg This letter was not produced
in the House of Lords.
46
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a condition to support them. I shall, therefore, most
cordially join with your Lordship, in condemning the
bad policy of taking possession of places at one time,
and aban[ 39 Jdoning them at another; and in the
opinion that the war should be conducted upon a
lc permanent and settled plan of conquest, by securing
and preserving what has been2c recovered. 3b*4d- But
if these maxims have been, on any occasion, deviated
from in the5abc past progress of the war ; I must, in
justice to myself declare, that it has never been
warranted by my orders, except, only in the case of
Rhode-Island.6a-7c'8h-9ikrw This I doubt not will appear
from the instructions I gave to General Leslie, and
the other general officers, whom I sent on expeditions
to the Chesapeak. For if Lord Cornwallis made alok
desultory lli>12k move into North Carolina, and, without
a force sufficient to protect, or provisions to support
them, invited by proclamation, the Loyalists to join
him, and afterwards found it necessary to quit the
lc permanent underlined.
2c recovered underlined.
3b is not this Idea totally relin
quished by the Cabinet when
they approve L. Cornwalhs
march into Virginia at the cer
tainty of losing every thing out
of Charlestown (Lord Cornwallis
own words) and at the risk I
may add of that Capitol.
4d Lord Cornwallis was the
first that broke through this
system when he forced opens in
Virginia before N. Carolina was
restored
5abc Past
6a which was occupied in 76
at the desire of Lord Howe, as
of the utmost importance to the
Fleet, and quitted in 79 on the
opinion of Adm.1 Arbuthnot that
it was of no use, and when its
garrison was wanted for impor
tant service Elsewhere
7c which was occupied at the
desire of one Admiral and given
up with the advice of another,
Lord Howe Adi Arbuthnot.
8h we took possession of R.
Island because Lord Howe had
at first considered it as a good
harbour S H C quitted it when
Admiral Arbuthnot declared it of
no use, & S H C in his reduced
state wanted the troops for
service.
9iknpq At the request of the
Navy R. Island was occupied at
their request it was also Aban
doned
10k desultory underlined.
Hi instead of a solid move to
give the Experiment a fair tryal
which alone he was authorised
by me to do.
12k instead of a solid establish
ment among them to give the
Experiment a fair tryal.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
47
friendly districts of that province, before he could
have time to give them ala+ fair trial,2b I am persuaded
your Lordship will acknowledge [ 40 ] he did not act
under my instructions : — nor were his Lordship's
retreat to3k Wilmington, 4iknw and subsequent move
from thence to Virginia, in consequence of my
orders :5h on the contrary, as I foresaw all the unhappy
consequences of them, I should certainly have
endeavoured to have stopt him, could I have known
his intentions in proper time.6a- But though his
Lordships movements, (which it must be confessed
have been as rapid as your Lordship expected) have
not to my sincere concern been successfully decisive ;
I am convinced he is, as I hope we all are, impressed
with the absolute necessity of vigorous exertions in
the service of his country at the present crisis. If
mine, however, have not been equal to my inclina
tions, I have little doubt they will be found to be at
least equal to my powers.7iblM-8d.
" I shall now, my Lord, beg leave to conclude with
labc fair trial underlined.
2b as he had promised
3k Wilmington underlined.
4iknpq instead of securing S:
Carolina as he was ordered &
had promised.
5h but contrary to them.
6a but so very determined was
his Lordp upon this last move
that tho he says one of his prin
cipal reasons for making it was
because he does not hear from
me, tells you at the inst he
makes it that he expects my
dispatches from C. Town every
instant. He moves witht them.
Nay tho he announces to the
army before he had passed the
roanoke that Lord Rawdon had
beaten Green, & consequently
another principal reason for
going into Virginia no longer
existed. He tells Farther He
still looks Northward.
Tiknpq I had full one third
less army than Sir W: Howe who
was protected by a fleet com
manded by his Brother Whereas
Washingtons army during my
Command increased in Numbers
& Discipline, & was reinforced
by 8 or 10 ooo french, & these
generally covered by a french
fleet.
8d I had not lay by so much
as S. W. Howe had even before
the French joined the Americans,
the Minister speaks in flattering
terms of my exertions with that
inferior army till he affects to
misunderstand Arnold's report to
him, & Washington's intercepted
letter to Congress, says, we are
now suffering more from the
remnant of an army than we did
when in its fullest force.
48 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the strongest assurances, that no man can be more
fervently desirous than I [ 41 ] am to see an honour
able end put to this most burthensome war. And
if I remain in the command, that no endeavours of
mine shall be wanting to execute, in the fullest
manner, the King's pleasure and commands. Of
the 10,000 men I solicited,11 only 4000 were even
promised ; and no portion of these, except a few
recruits, 2d has yet joined this part of the army.
Your Lordship's last letters, however, give me hopes,
that three3d British bat tali ons4b<5d and two thousand
six hundred German troops may be immediately ex
pected. If all these arrive, I shall then be able, at
a proper season to reinforce the Chesapeak corps
very considerably ;6i and if a reinforcement7h does
not likewise come to the French armament already
here, such operations may be carried on as may
perhaps produce some advantages in the course of
the Winter. But if our reinforcement does not
arrive^8a.9b.lOc.llfiklmnopqrs anc[ tne ^rench should
receive [ 42 ] theirs, 12d I think we shall have every
thing to apprehend.
Before I close, however, I beg leave to say a word
or two in explanation of two observations, in the
Commissioners of Accounts Seventh Report ; in
order to obviate any implied censure, they may be
li these 10,000 were taken proceed with 3000 men on con-
from me the first Campaign junct Expn to R. Island.
2d and such Recruits ! 6i as they had ordered me to
SdBritish battalions underlined, carry on operation there.
4b the 3 Batns went to C. Town 7h not a Regt joined S. H. C.
the German recruits such as they 8a our reinf orcemt did no £ arrive
were arrived in August immedi- and that of the Enemy did.
ately on their arrival I offered to 9b which unfortunately hap-
embark with 3000 men for R pened to be the Case, as I feared
Island & Providence. it would.
5d the three Batts went to C. 10c which was exactly what
Town and arriv'd in time to save hap'ned
that Capitol, & Province The llfiklmnopqrs Which exactly
German Recruits such as they happened as I feared it would,
were joined me the nth of 12d alas too true.
August I immediately offered to
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE
49
supposed to point against me as Commander in Chief
of the army in North America.
The Commissioners are pleased to say, " It appears
" that the number of the forces decreased every year,
"from 1778, but the issue for the extraordinary
" services of that army greatly encreased, during the
" same period."la-2b-3d-4h-5i-
6a And again, " In the account of the issues to the
" officers in the four departments, we find that the
" warrants71'8* issued to the Quarter-master's-general,
la had these Gentlemen read directed the Comr of accounts to
the report of a Board of Investi
gation recommended to their
President by the Secretary of
Treasury they would not have
been at a loss to account for this
2b Too true but fully accounted
for.
3d Tis true but if the Comrs
had read the report of a board
of investigation, appointed by Sr
H. C. a year before they made of
theirs and which was offered to
them by the Treasury, they
would have found this Increase
accounted for and every other
Remark in their yth Report ex-
pos'd as they deserved to be,
perhaps this was the reason they
would not receive those Papers
they were in some hurry to make
this Report immediately after it
their Salary was established
4h True and if the Comrs had
examined me as they had done
S. W. Howe & L.Cornwallis they
would have found it accounted for:
5i all accounted for & reported
to the Treasury long before the
date of this report — offered to
the board but not accepted.
6a nor this
7i There were two Reasons why
final warrants could not be
granted ; I had differing in that
respect from other Comrs in Chief
act, in auditing, examining, &
reporting all such accounts before
I gave final warrants, till he had
done so it will appear obvious
therefore that I could not grant
final warrants, nor could I grant
final warrants to any but the
heads of Departments and it
often hapned that these were
separated for a considerable time,
the Q. M. Genl was in England
for one whole year on very im
portant service ; and as money
therefore could only be granted
on temporary warrants, had that
mode not been followed the
service must have suffered with
respect to the ceremony of a
quarterly abstract that sauve la
presence de Messieurs les Com-
missionars is false.
8b a Commissary of Controul
and accounts was appointed in
Feby 79 at my request all these
accounts were of course referred
to him ; He would not act or
report upon them, till he did no
final warrant could be granted ;
nor indeed if he had could any
final warrant have been granted
to the Dept of Q. Master General
as he was in England on service ;
nor indeed were any final warrants
of the Comrs in chief necessary,
for he could not pass accts.
7
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
since the i6th July 1780, and to the Barrack-
master's-general since the 2gth June 1780, and to
the Commissaries-general, since the 25th [ 43 ] of
May 1778, have been all temporary, for sums on
account ; and that no final warrant has been
granted since those several periods. lb>2ht So that
these sums have been issued, without even the cere
mony of a3b quarterly abstract,421 and the con
fidential reliance on the officer, that his vouchers
are forth coming."5d<61-
I arrived in London many days before the Com-
lb this is not true & the Com
missioners know it.
2h false & they would have
been convinced on enquiry.
3b quarterly abstract underlined.
4a I had very early in my
Command requested that a Com
missary of accounts might be
appointed, Col. Drummond was
appointed in Feby 79. but tho
frequently called upon would not
act till July 81. expecting of
course that he would, all these
accounts were to be laid before
him, nor could I with propriety
grant final warrants except upon
his report.
5d In short without taking the
trouble to explain Article by
Article suffice it to say that de
claring as they do that they can
obtain no information relative to
Expenditures in America pointing
out the only means by which
such information can be obtained
when such is offered by authority
they reject it imply a censure of
neglect in the Comr in Chief and
give credit to a Lieut Genl serving
under his orders at his expence
and that of Truth. They men
tion a certain suppd abuse exist
ing and say the only orders they
find striking at such abuse are
those of Ld Cornllis 23rd Deer go
whereas had they read the above
reports and investigations they
wd have seen that there were
general orders of Sr H. Clinton of
1 8 months prior date to those
Reports of Ld Cornllis presenting
a possibility of such abuse and
JL «7
therefore if they did exist as the
Commrs declare they did when
Ld Cornllis issued his orders.
They must have existed by his
Lordship's disobedience of Sr H.
C's orders, issued part of them
while his Ldship was in the same
Camp with Sr H. C. and are to
be found in his Ldship's orderly
Book. This I told Ld Cornwal-
lis, Mr Pitt and the Comr ofrs in
form in 1785. H. Clinton
61 had all these implyed Charges
of Negligence been as well
founded as they are most of
them ill founded it will be diffi
cult to place blame on S H C.
He informed the Treasury he had
not leisure to look into expendi
tures they answered that they
could not expt & that at his de
sire they had appointed a Com.
of accounts to examine audit &
report relative to them if that
Genl would not act how is S H C
to blame.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 51
missioners of Accounts delivered in their Seventh
Report to the House of Commons. lb* Had those
Gentlemen called upon me, as they did on Sir
William Howe, and Lord Cornwallis ; had they
examined certain officers of the different depart
ments, who arrived in England at the time I did,
and who announced themselves to them ; and had
they read all the Reports of the different Boards of
General Officers and Magistrates, that had been
appointed by me at New York, to enquire into the
expenditure of public money,2fiMmn°P(irs-3a-4c (all which
reports had been sent to the [ 44] Lords Commissioners
of the Treasury many months before)5^01110**!13 I am
persuaded that their Report would not have appeared
on the table of the House of Commons in the shape
it has done. For when they were informed (as they
would have been by the means just stated) that
all the rum purchased for the supply of the army
during the whole period of my command, was paid
for in America by my warrants, whereas before then
it used to be paid for in England ; that considerable
sums of money were paid on my warrants for
expences incurred during the command of my pre-
decessor,6i*7ab which could not be brought to account
sooner ; that provisions to a very considerable amount
lb A short Fact I told the ning of the war to nearly its
Board when admitted to a private close.
audience you say you have no in- 3a and were particularly recom-
formation, can get none, that mended to the board by Mr
the only means by which tis to John Robinson then the Secre-
be obtained is in america, by per- tary of the Treasury,
sons of rank & properly qualified, 4c and recommended to them
such information I obtained by by order of the Lords of the
a board of Genl officers & Magis- Treasury.
trates a year since, their report 5fiklmnopqrs and which were
was sent to the treasury & I am recommended to their Considera-
informed by the Treasury it was tion by Mr Robinson Secretary
offered to you before you made to the Treasury,
your seventh report but you re- 6i I paid above 300.000 of
jected it. debts contracted in S.W. H. time.
2fiklmnopqrs from the begin- 7ab 300.000
52 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
were purchased in America, la<2b and paid for in America
on my warrants, for the supply of the army, which
might otherwise have been exposed to the greatest
distress; all which together amounted to nearly
1,500,000!. and that the increase of posts, during my
command, at [ 45 ] Savannah, Charles Town, Cape
Fear, Portsmouth, Penobscot, &c.3a requiring each
their respective establishments,4^1"1110?^ added of
course to the extraordinaries of my army ;5a and that,
besides these, and many others which I could enume
rate, the peculiar circumstances of my command
exposed me to many expences unknown to my prede
cessor ;6iknpq it is presumed, those Gentlemen would
have admitted, that the increase of the issues for the
extraordinary services of the army under my command,
Tiknpq was accounted for. This matter, however, went,
by my desire, through a very full and formal investiga-
tion,811*11!*! in August 1781, before a Board of general
officers and magistrates (of which Lieutenant-general
Robertson was President) under the title of a Com
parative View of Expences incurred,9a from the 3ist
December 1775, to the i6th of May 1778 (the time
of Sir William Howe's command) and of what was
paid by me,10i between the 26th of [ 46 ] May 1778,
la 120,000; 500,000; etce- 7 months of my command or
teras 500,000. with what view that was done
2b etceteras the rest, 90,000 Gen. Rob. and Col. Drumd must
3a & had recollected that a de- explain. Their Report proves the
fensive war is more expensive impropriety of it and that the
than an offensive one. last year of S. W. Howe and the
4fiklmnopqrs Solid works in- first of mine would have been the
stead of light field works. fairest Comparative view, as will
5a as explained by the report appear to all who read the report.
6iknpq my Rum paid for by 10i Increase of Loyalist Secret
me ^300,000. service one article of which cost
Tiknpq Provisions ^100,000. (Arnold) .£6300 & the whole
Siknpq of Debts contracted in amount of secret service during
Sir W : Howes time which were my command did not exceed
paid by me ^300,000. ^18000 & not a sixpence ever
9a why this Comparative view passed through my hands I count
was to take in 2?™ & 5 months I had not better opportunity of
of S. W. Howe, and two years distributing on such occasions,
SIB HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 53
and the 3 ist of December 1780. Which produced
the following report from that Board.
" The great national expence in the first period
" of Sir William Howe's command, arose from the
" whole navy, and a very numerous fleet of transports,
" being employed in attending the movements of the
" army ; no part of which appears in Sir William
" Howe's warrants.
" The expence of the Quarter-master-general,
" Barrack-master-general, and Engineer departments,
" were necessarily small, while the troops were on
" board ships, or had their supplies from transports.
" During part of the first period, the great article
" of expence, rum, was provided for by a contract
" made in England, and paid for there. Whereas,
" during the second period, the rum was pur-[ 47 ]
" chased by the Commissary-general, and paid for by
" the Commander in Chief's warrants. A very large
" quantity of provisions purchased also, during the
" latter period, swells the amount of the warrants.
" But what destroys a possibility of drawing any
"just conclusion from a comparison of the amount
" of the warrants in these two periods, arises from
" this ; that a great part of the expence incurred by
" Sir William Howe, was paid by warrants granted
" by Sir Henry Clinton."
This report having been regularly transmitted to
the Treasury, I must suppose it was laid before the
Commissioners of Accounts. Had it been read by
those Gentlemen, it is presumable it would have, at
least, accompanied theirs.
With regard to the second observation alluded
to,lb respecting my not granting final warrants to
certain departments from certain [ 48 ] periods ; if
the commissioners had read all the above papers,
I think it would have occurred to them ;2b>3c that
one million properly applied early 2b I do not scruple in the least
would have saved America. to assert that these Commis-
lb offered to them but rejected sioners reported on exparte evi-
54
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
as a Commissary of Accounts had been commissioned,
ifikimnoPqrs.2c anc[ was actually employed in auditing
the accounts of the different departments, I could
not, with propriety, grant final warrants to any of the
departments upon their quarterly abstracts (as had
been before practised) untill their accounts had been
first audited and certified by the Commissary.
3fiknopqrs.41-5a.6a-
As to the mode of supply which I found estab
lished,^ when I succeeded to the command of the
army in North America, and which I understood had
been approved by Government, I certainly could not,
in prudence, have made any alterations or reduction
in it, as long as I had offensive operation in view.
The instant, however, that I received orders to place
dence when other might be had,
& I told them so at their Board
3c These Commissioners inform
the Treasury they can get no
information respecting the extra-
ordinaries of the Army in
America, point out the means by
wch that is to be obtained, &
when they are told by the
Treasury, that such means, had
been employed a year since by
Sir H. Clinton, and the report
then laying at the Treasury, they
neglect availing themselves of it,
censure one officer commend an
other without the least cause for
either.
Ifiklmnopqrs That Gentleman
was Commissioned in Feb. 79,
but T could not prevail upon him
to act till July 1781.
2c by S W. Howe
Sfiknopqrs That I did both
the instant I obtained his certifi
cate or was otherwise justified by
another Board of Genl officers &
whose proceedings were also sent
to the Treasury before the Com
missioners of Accounts made
their 7th Report & was offered to
their Inspection.
41 Same as note 3, adding
together with the first.
5a the Commissary General Mr
Weir objected to his accounts
being audited in America & the
Principal of the Q M Generals
Department Col. Dalrymple, was
in England from July 80 to Octr
8 1 so that no final warrant could
be granted to that Departt in his
absence.
6a the President of the board
of Contract.
7a The Contracts of supply
were all made by Sir Willm
Erskine, & by order of S W.
Howe, as I found them ; so I
left them, if contract & Controul
were in the same hands S. W. E.
told me it ever had been the
custom in America I told him it
sounded odd that I should take
no notice, but that we must be
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NAEEATIVE 55
the army upon a strict defensive, I proposed such a
reduction as could take place. And when I obtained
[ 49 ] his Majesty's permission to resign the com
mand, I recommended it to General Eobertson, who
was appointed to succeed me.
(Signed)
"H. CLINTON."
lg.2h.3i.
lg These Gentlemen the Com
missioners of Accounts told the
Secy of the Treasury that they
could get no information relative
to expenditures in America they
recommend that proper persons
may examine on the spot, they
are informed their wishes had
been anticipated a year before by
S H Clinton, & the papers and
reports recommended for their
inspection and examination, but
they reject them, & make their
Report on exparte information
censure some commend others
without being founded in either.
2h The short fact is & I told
these Gentlemen so at their
Board, and further that the
Sectry of the Treasury had in
formed me that He had had a
meeting with their President &
told him on his complaining they
could get no information, &
pointing out the only means by
wch it could be obtained that
such had been obtained by S H
Clinton & the Lords of the Trea
sury wished them to acpt that re
port (of the board appointed by
5 H C). but tho it was offered a
second time to them through
their Secretary it was rejected ;
6 that they had therefore made
their report on exparte informa
tion ; I said further that I would
not have been guilty of such im
propriety by them for all the
world ; & as to Lord Cornwalhs
he had declared upon Oath
that an abuse had existed in the
Com. Genl department when he
issued his orders Oct 80 to re
medy ; I would declare either
that no such abuse did exist or
if it did it must have been ow
ing to L. C disobeying my orders
most of them given many
months before his, & while he
was under my immediate Com
mand.
3i The President of this board
of accounts waited upon Mr
Robinson then Secretary of the
Treasury I believe in March 82
in company with Mr Mollison
the then Secretary He informed
Mr Robinson that it would be
impossible for his board to give
any information relative to ex
penditures He pointed out the
means by which that was to be
obtained Mr Robinson informed
him that S H C had long since
anticipated their wishes obtained
full information & reported it to
the Treasury and that it was
their Lordships wishes the Com
missioner would examine it, but
that notwithstanding they left it
55 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
out of their Precept sent to the tained, & when such is offered
Treasury by Mr Mollison it was by the Treasury they refuse it,
however altered by Mr Martin imply censure of negligence on
Leak by desire Mr Robinson & S H C and give the Credit of an
with the Consent of Mr Mollison, ecconomical system to Lord
but on his returning with it to Cornwallis (which by the bye
the Commissions He Mr Mollison his Lordship also seems to have
was sent back with a Precept assumed.) & which belongs to
still more confined than the first S. H. Clinton & which had been
— this I had from Mr Robinson established by the order of S. H. C
himself — In short the Board of of date 1 2 months prior to that
Commissioners Complain they can order which L C seems to have
get no information on american claimed the merit, & the Corn-
expenditures point out the only missioners of accts have positively
means by which that is to be ob- ascribed it to his Lordship.
APPENDIX.
Number I. [51] Extract of a Letter from Lord
George Germain to Sir Henry Clinton, dated May 2,
1781. see Letter p 464.
Number II. [53] Extract of a Letter from Lord
George Germain to Sir Henry Clinton, dated June
6, 1781. see Letter ii. 13.
Number III. [54] Copy of a Letter from Rear
Admiral Sir S. Hood to Sir H. Clinton, dated off
Cape Henry, August 25, 1781. see Letter ii. 140.
Number IV. [55] Copy of a Letter from General
Washington to Count De Grasse, dated Williamsburg,
September 26, 1781. see Letter ii. 165.
Number V. [61] Extract from Lord George
Germain's Letter to Sir Henry Clinton, dated
October 12, 1781. see Letter ii. 178.
Number VI. [63] Extract from Sir Henry Clinton's
Letter to Rear- Admiral Graves, dated August 16,
1781. see Extract\\. 126. Extract from Sir Henry
Clinton's Letter to Rear-Admiral Graves, dated
August 1 8, 1781. see Extract ii. 129.
Number VII. [64] Extracts from Rear-Admiral
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE 57
Graves's Letters to Sir H. Clinton, dated 18 and 21
August, 1781. see Extracts ii. 129.
Number VIII. [65] Extract from Lord Corn-
wallis's Letter to Sir H. Clinton. York Town, Vir
ginia, 20 October, 1781. see Letter ii. 205. Copy
[68] of a letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Earl
Cornwallis, dated 30 November, 1781. (This letter
was not produced in the House of Lords.) see
Letter ii. 217.
Number IX. [70] Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Letter
to Sir Henry Clinton, dated New York, 2d Decem
ber, 1781. (This letter was read in the House of
Lords.) see Letter ii. 219.
Number IX. [73] Copy of a Letter from Sir
Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated New York,
2d and loth December, 1781. (This letter was not
read in the House of Lords.) see Letter ii. 240.
Number IX. [82] Extract of a letter from Sir
Henry Clinton, to Lord George Germaine, dated
December 3, 1781. see Letter ii. 230.
Number IX. [ 84 ] Copy of a letter from Sir
Henry Clinton, to Lord George Germain, dated De
cember 6, 1781. see Letter ii. 233.
Number X. [95] Extract from Sir H. Clinton's
Instructions to Major-General Philips, dated March
10, 1781. see Letter p 347. Extract [96] from the
Substance of Conversations held with General Philips,
sent to that General Officer for his Guidance, see
Letter p 430.
Number XL [97] Vide p. 7. 1. 15. Extract from
Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord George Germain,
Oct. 30, 1780. see Letters p 281. — April 5, 1781
P 383- [103] April 30, 1781. p 458.— [105] In
closed in the above letter the following extracts from
Sir Henry Clinton's letters to Major General Phillips.
April 26, 1781. see Letters p 437. [106] April 30,
1781. p 450.
8
58 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
N.B. These two letters with other dispatches fell
into Lord Cornwallis's hands on General Phillips's
death and were opened by his Lordship ; and the
expedition therein proposed recommended to his
consideration.
Number XII. [109] Vide p. 37. 1. 6. Extracts
from Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord George
Germain. May 20, 1781. see Letters p 47 4. May
22,^478.
Number XIII. [m] Vide p. 37. 1. n. Extracts
from Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord George
Germain, July 18, 1781. see Letters ii. 82. [113]
July 25, ii. 91. August 9, ii. 120.
[From last leaf of Book i which is mutilated.]
26 Feb. 89
After reading this narrative
perhaps it will be acknowledged
that the original cause of the
misfortunes of the Campagn 81
was Lord Cornwallis coming
there (contrary to H C orders) and
his ad vising the Cabinet [to ad] opt
solid operation there, the second
[cause] was the Fleet under Lord
Rodney [not following] the French
Fleet to Chesapeak [to cover] op
erations as he had [been] ordered
and had promised [to do] can S. H.
C. be in the least [responsible ;
in L. C. reply all he includes [at
tempts to prove the] misfortunes
of that Campaign [were] not the
unavoidable consequences of his
coming into Virginia or his ad
vising the Ministers to adopt
solid operation [there] he [in
sinuates] further that if S. H. C.
had disapproved of his being there
he might have disposed of his
Corps as he pleased, [His] Lordship
might have recollected that the
Cabinet letter page 5 1 & others
clearly put it out of [S. H. C.'s]
power to draw a man from chesa-
peak if he had not been forbid to
do so, under the [ass]urances of
a covering fleet he should not
[have] been anxious to have sent
him back knowing [it was] the
Cabinets and his wish to carry on
operation [there] & having deter
mined himself to quit the [com]-
mand the instt he should think him
self [at] liberty — this obsn of his
Lordship therefore [had] better
been left out — if his Lordship
AN
ANSWER
TO THAT PART OF THE
NARRATIVE
O F
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
SIR HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
Which relates to the Conduct of
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
EARL CORNWALLIS,
DURING THE
CAMPAIGN IN NORTH-AMERICA,
IN THE YEAR 1781.
BY EARL CORNWALLIS.
LONDON:
Printed for J. DEBRETT, (Successor to Mr. Almon,)
opposite BURLINGTON- HOUSE, PICCADILLY.
M.DCC.LXXXIII,
THE
INTRODUCTION.
THE feelings, which dictate this publication, have
originated from the contents of a Narrative,
signed by Sir Henry Clinton, late Commander in
Chief in America. In which Narrative, events are
attributed to my conductlb during the campaign
of 1781, which, I trust, it will appear, were by no
means the unavoidable2*0*35 consequences of any
part Of it.4a'5c.6c.7a.
lb and Councils my good Lord.
2ac unavoidable underlined.
3b Had Lord Cornwallis been
as explicit in his Reply as he had
been in his conversation with S
H Clinton at K York, He would
have said thus. I would not have
come into Virginia, or advised
the Cabinet to adopt solid opera
tion there, if I had not had hopes
and had expected a covering
Fleet — we were promised it we
had it not in time; the Fate
which met me there was not
therefore the unavoidable conse
quence of my conduct or my
councils, such an explanation
would have thrown great share
of blame on the Cabinet & on
the Navy to whom it belongs.
4a I acknowledge that If the
promised covering Fleet had
arrived, L. Cornwallis would have
been safe.
5c Memm. Narrative Jany 25.
my letter 5 march 81 expresses
my opinion of operation in Chesa-
peak witht the certainty of a
covering Fleet. Tarletons His
tory proves L C disregard of my
orders, first by throwing down
the works of C Town & then by
marching into N. Carolina leaving
it exposed. How different L C.
opinion is when He in a conver
sation we had says He did not
think He could be justified in
leaving York & escaping to S.
Carolina unless I had assured him
the Fleet would not attempt to
succour him in his letter 20 octr
He says if He had not had hopes
of succour He would have tried
to escape to N. York.
6c Sir Henry Clinton could not
prevent Lord Cornwallis going
into Virginia — he was forbid
sending him back, or employing
his Corps anywhere else — he
did all that depended on him to
62
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
The materials, hitherto produced, cannot be
deemed complete, either in form or substance.
There were many deficiencies in the papers laid
before the House of Lords ; lc in particular, four
render his operations there secure
— all he could to succour him :
& by the best Plan, all he could
to strike at the Enemy's Combi
nations before they were put in
motion against his Lordship.
Certain it is however(tho S H C.
must ever disapprove of operation
in Virginia beginning in June)
yet if the promised Fleet had
arrived in time L. Cornwallis
could not have been attempted
by the Enemy, tho in such a
climate, at such a season he must
have risked his army, as I had
charg'd his Lordship with calling
for letters in Parliament & pub
lishing others witht my answers
I suppose he judged it necessary
to seem at least to retort.
7a once established in Virginia
tis certain nothing could supply,
succour or save you but a Fleet,
but all must admit that if you
had not (contrary to my original
orders ; contrary to my opinions
contained in dispatches (which if
you had not received, if Col
Balfour had done his duty you
must have received) ; contrary
to the united opinion of all the
officers you called into Council)
marched into Virginia you could
not have been taken there. I
never meant to be understood
to say that Catastrophe was the
unavoidable consequence of your
march. We were promised a
Fleet by Minister and Admiral
if we had it not, it was not S H
Clinton's fault, this your Lordship
knew, acknowledged in private,
& should have done so publickly.
lc There were deficiencies tis
true my good Lord and I have
proved it in my narrative, and so
clearly that your Lordship finds
it necessary to meet it by a
retort, but you unfortunately have
pitched upon 4 letters which of
all others are such as I could have
wished to have published, particu
larly the 3 last, as they describe
the Post of York which you had
chosen in preference to that of
Old point Comfort in ±he James
river very differently, rrom what
you describe it in your letter
giving an account of the Capitu
lation. And the copies of the
others in augt and Octr were sent
to the Minister because the origi
nals had been dispatched to your
Lordship ; but had been taken, a
circumstance not known to me
at the time, but with respect to
my charge it stands shortly thus,
Your Lordship's letter giving an
account of the Catastrophy which
lost America is read in the House
of Lords, & though it contained
implications nay assertions reflect
ing on the Comr in Chief some
of which you acknowledge not
founded, this letter to your Lord
ship in answer is not read, (altho
He had particularly requested the
minister to publish it,) still more
strange your Lordships reply to
this letter is called for and read,
& published, so that, of a Corres
pondence of so much Consequence,
your Lordships part of it only is
read ! ! !
EAEL QORNWALLIS'S ANSWER
my reasons
march3b'4d
letters, dated July the 24th, August the i6th, 2Oth,
and 22d, from me to Sir Henry Clinton, were
wanting ;la<2a one of which contained
at large for undertaking the [ ii
into Virginia : This omission, as the Secretary
of State informed the House, was owing to their
not having been transmitted by the Commander
in Chief. Four other letters (three of them dated
the 2d, 27th, and 3Oth of August, and one the
la as S H Clinton had not
blamed your march to the Minis
ter, it was not necessary for him
to send your reasons for it, you
had given them when you made
the move, and as to your letters
1 6th 2Oth 22nd August, those of
all others S H Clinton should have
wished to send to the Minister,
as they describe your Post of
York so favorably, and so differ
ently from your description of it
in your letter 2oth October after
your capitulation, read pages 185.
to 1 88 of this book.
2a Having proved that these
letters were of no consequence to
Lord Cornwallis tho some of
them were materially so to S. H.
C. He must again repeat that
of 4 letters giving an account of
the catastrophe of York Town &
the events which produced it,
those only of Lord Cornwallis
are called for in the house of
Lords or Published.
3b As S H Clinton had never
accused Lord Cornwallis to the
minister there surely was no
occasion for him to Vindicate his
Lordships conduct Lord Corn
wallis availing himself of the power
S H Clinton had given him of
reporting to the minister, not only
did that but offered his plans, and,
gave his reasons for every part of
his conduct it therefore was not
necessary for S H Clinton to
send duplicates ; but Lord Corn
wallis conduct was very different.
He was in the House of Lords
desired Lord Townsend to call
for his Lordship's answer to S H
Clinton page 68 of his appendix
while his letter of the 3oth novr
page 66, to which it was an
answer, was not read in the
House of Lords or called for. as
to the 4 others :
4d As Sr Hy Clinton had
never accused Ld Cornwallis to
the minister it was not necessary
to vindicate his Lordship. Lord
Cornwallis when he marched into
Virginia and advised solid opera
tion there gave his reasons to the
Minister and explained those
also which had induced him to
March into N. Carolina to Wil
mington &c &c. — The Letters of
the 1 6th 2Qth and 22nd of
August where left out by mis
take of all others (read them)
they were what I should have
wished to have published as they
describe the Post very different
from what his Lordship described
it on his surrender but his Ldship
seems to think it necessary to
meet my charge (of producing his
Answers to my Letters without
those to which they were answers)
by something similar on my part.
64 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
1 4th, 1 5th, and i8th of October) from Sir Henry
Clinton to me, were read to the Lords, according
to the order of their dates ; although they were
only delivered to me, by the Secretary to the Com
mander in Chief, in the latter end of November,
at New-York, above a month after my surrender ;
and consequently, their contents could not influence
my conduct in any manner. ld*
I own I am perfectly aware of the impropriety
of publishing official letters for private reasons ;
but, since the measures with respect to America
have now undergone a total change, I hope, I shall
in some degree stand excused for producing the
whole correspondence, in my possession, relative2*1
to the principal transactions of that campaign; as
it is the most candid and complete mode, in my
power, of submitting them to the public consideration.
The perusal of this Correspondence will, I think,
render not only the military, but every other reader
a competent judge of the proprie[ iii ]ty of my
conduct, either when I acted under positive orders,
pressing contingencies, or discretionary powers.3a-4a>5d*
Id These others were sent by a not after your loss at Cowpens.
Man of War but she was taken, You had positive orders not to
that Sr H. C. could not know till make any move that might
the copy's were gone to Europe. endanger Charles Town, you
2d even private Letters Yr notg. order part of the works to
Lordship published and such as be levelled, & 3 times while that
only could tend to produce alter- Capitol is in that exposed state,
cation between the good Old (without reporting it to the
Admiral and me and deliver over Comr in Chief) you move at the
a whole district and a Chief by very probable risk of losing that
Name to the resentment of Con- Capitol & a province, put under
gress Vide Pages 105. ill. Yr your care: what the pressing con-
Lordship's Reply. tingencies were which induced
Sapositive to powers underlined, you to move into Virginia in
4a from the opinion I had of April 81 I am at a loss to guess.
your judgment & exertions I the exertions were as likely to
acquiesced in your Plan of opera- have been made to the North-
tions in N. Carolina as long as ward, & probably to more ad-
you had the means of making a vantage in the months of July
solid establishment there, but &c & then in Virginia.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 65
It is foreign to the present purpose, and I shall
therefore not endeavour to enumerate the many diffi
culties, which I had to struggle with, in my command
of the Southern district, previous to the march into
North Carolina, in the beginning of the year 1781.
This measure was thought expedient not only by me,
but by the Commander in Chief :lb I was princi
pally induced to decide in favour of its expediency
from a clear conviction, that the men and treasures
of Britain would be lavished in vain upon the
American war, without the most active exertions of the
troops allotted for that service ; and, that, while the
enemy could draw their supplies from North Carolina
and Virginia, the defence of the frontier of South
Carolina, even against an inferior army, would be
from its extent, the nature of the climate, and the
disposition of the inhabitants, utterly impracticable.
The many untoward circumstances, which occurred
during the four months succeeding the complete
victory of Camden, had entirely confirmed me in this
opinion. Our hopes of success, in offensive operations,
[ iv ] were not founded only upon the efforts of the
corps under my immediate command, which did not
much exceed three thousand men ;2b but principally,
upon the most positive assurances, given by appar
ently credible deputies and emissaries, that, upon
the appearance of a British army in North Carolina,313
a great body of the inhabitants were ready to join and
co-operate with it, in endeavouring to restore his
Majesty's Government. 4a*
5d Under one of these My disultory move such as he was
good Lord you might have saved obliged to make after Tarltons
part of your Army if you had at defeat and the destruction of his
any time thought you could not waggons &c.
be succoured by the Navy read 2 b he passed the Catawba 3560
Washington's Letter to de Grasse 3b he fought the battle of
respecting the practicability of Guildford with 1306.
your doing so. 4a such assurances were given
lb I approved a solid opn to at that time but none after they
give it a fair Tryal but riot a had been abandoned in Sept 80.
66 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
The disaster of the ryth of January cannot be
imputed to any defect in my conduct, as the detach
ment was certainly superior to the force against which
it was sent, and put under the command of an officer
of experience and tried abilities. la> This misfortune,
however, did not appear irretrievable ;2a-3t>.4b an(j to
have abandoned, without absolute necessity, the plan
of the campaign, would have been ruinous and dis
graceful : ruinous, by engaging us in a defensive
system,5a the impracticability of which I have already
stated ; and disgraceful, because the reasons for the
undertaking still existed in their full strength, the
public faith was pledged to our friends in North
Carolina, and I believed my remaining force to be
superior to that under the command of General
Greene. [ v ] That this opinion was well founded,
the precipitate retreat of that General from North
Carolina, and our victory at Guildford, after his
return with Virginia reinforcements, are sufficient
proofs.
The unexpected failure of our friends6a rendered
the victory of Guildford of little value. I know
that it has been asserted or insinuated that they
were not sufficiently tried upon this occasion: But
can any dispassionate person believe, that I did not
la Tarlton tells us you promised you would have catched him
to co-operate & did not. probably at his passage of Cataw-
2a have you so soon forgot baw
Lord Rawdons letters 29 Octr 4b after the loss of all your
1780, written in your name. light troops how could you hope
pages 37. 38 to 44 My Observa- to succeed in an operation de-
tions. did not these reasons ope- pending so totally on them,
rate stronger in Jany after you 5a Why was you to suppose
had lost all your light Troops at that S H C was to be Idle or
Cowpens, and destroyed your that his offensive in the proper
waggons & had not the means season for him to act was not as
of making a solid move into likely to be important and sue-
North Carolina. cessfull as your Lordship's in such
3b Your Lordsp offered co-ope- a Province as Virginia and at
ration, it was accepted and you such a season,
promised it. had you co-operated : 6a or rather of your means of
Morgan would have flown and protecting them.
EARL CORNWALLI&S ANSWER 67
give every encouragement to people of all descrip
tions to join and assist us, when my own reputation,
the safety of the army, and the interests of my
country, were so deeply concerned in that junction
and assistance? All inducements in my power were
made use of without material eifect ; and every man
in the army must have been convinced, that the
accounts of our emissaries had greatly exaggerated
the number of those who professed friendship for us,
as they must have observed, that a very inconsider
able part of them could be prevailed upon to remain
with us, or to exert themselves in any form whatever.lb-
This disappointment, and the wants and distresses
of the army, compelled me to move to Cross-creek ;
but meeting there with no ma[ vi Jterial part of the
promised assistance and supplies, I was obliged to
continue my march to Wilmington,2a'3b where
hospitals and stores were ready for us. Of this move
I sent information by several expresses to Lord
Rawdon, but unfortunately they all failed. My
intention then was, as soon as I should have equipped
my own corps, and received a part of the expected
reinforcement from Ireland, to return to the upper
country ;4a in hopes of giving some protection to
South Carolina, and of preserving the health of the
troops, until new measures could be concerted with
the Commander in Chief. 5a*
lb your Lordp ordered them to 2a why not to Campden my
rise after Campden, they did so, good Lord.
you marched to suppt them. 3b for these reasons Campden
Fergusons defeat obliged you to was much nearer, in going there
retrograde and leave them to be you had all these, you covered S.
massacred you afterwards made a Carolina & obey'd the orders you
desultory move instead of a solid had received,
one to support them and when 4a and you had promised so to
you invited them to join you, do.
you had not 700 men to support 5a do you not my good Lord
them ; no arms to give them, not in your letter to L. G. G. dated
2 days provision in your army, the day before you march into
& actually in retreat when you Virginia say that you had heard
caUed them ! ! !
68
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
The march of General Greene into South Carolina,
and Lord Eawdon's danger, made my situation very
critical.1*'20* Having heard of the arrival of a pacquet
from Europe, without any certain accounts of the
sailing of the reinforcement, I thought it too
hazardous to remain inactive ;3a'4a and, as it was
impossible to receive in time any orders5b'6b or
opinions™' 8d from Sir Henry Clinton to direct
me,9c it became my duty to act from my own judg-
my dispatches & orders were
coining to you.
la & yet tho' you announce to
your army that L. R. with a 3d
of your numbers had beaten
Green you still proceed.
2c why did you not return to
S. Carolina my good Lord, you
knew of the dismantled state of
C. Town, you had aprehensions
for Lord Rawdons corps & Caro
lina by going even by sea which
you might have done in 1 2 hours,
or by Waggamaw were you were
invited by Col. Balf our you saved
Lord E-awdon S Carolina &
Charlestown, by going to Vir
ginia you risked not only all these
but Genl. Phillips corps which
you had ordered to meet you at
Petersberg.
3a the good Earl seems to think
that no body's activity but his
own could save America was it
even True that S. H C. Zeal, ca
pacity or activity did not Equal
His Lordship's ; His Exertions to
the Northward in the months of
July &c. were more likely to bene
fit the cause than any his Lord
ship could carry on in Virginia at
that season.
4a inactive underlined.
5b orders underlined.
6b those orders those opinions
were lying at C. Town since the
7th. you knew it C. Balf our read
this, & neglected sending them
to you by the Amphitrite and
Swallow, & finally sent you what
was not the substance of those
orders & opinions for they all
tended to prevent your going into
Virginia.
7bd opinions underlined.
8d Both were waiting at C.
Town for yr Ldship from the 6th
of April 8 1 to the 23d the day
you marched for Virginia read
them then ask yourself whether
instead of inviting you into Vir-
gina or inducing you to hope
that solid operations might be
adopted in that quarter they do
not tell you the Enemys Fleet
is in the Chesapeak that I had
determined against solid opera
tion there fixed on another Plan
which yr Lordship by going there
would counteract had you there
fore read those Letters you would
have saved the Provinces of
South Carolina and Georgia pre
served your Own Army in the
back healthy parts of S. Carolina
as I should the rest by taking
the other part of it from that
sickly Province of Virginia as
sembled the whole at New York
and saved America.
9c don't say my good Lord
it was impossible to receive S H C.
orders, your letter dated the day
before you move acknowledges
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 69
ment and experience; I therefore upon mature
deliberation, decided to march into Virginia, as the
safestla and most effectual means2a of employing
the small corps, under my command, in contributing
towards the general [ vii ] success of the war.3c< I
came to this resolution principally for the following
reasons, — I could not remain at Wilmington, lest
General Greene should succeed against Lord Rawdon,
and, by returning to North Carolina, have it in his
power to cut off every means of saving my small corps,
except that disgraceful one of an embarkation, with
the loss of the cavalry, and every horse in the
army :4c From the shortness of Lord Rawdon's stock
of provisions, and the great distance from Wilmington
to Camden, it appeared impossible, that any direct
move of mine could afford him the least prospect of
relief :5a in the attempt, in case of a misfortune to
him,6c the safety of my own corps might have been
endangered ; or if he extricated himself, the force in
South Carolina, when assembled, was, in my opinion,
sufficient to secure what was valuable to us, and
capable of defence in that province. 7c< I was likewise
influenced by having just received an account from
Charles-town of the arrival of a frigate with dis-
patches8d from the Commander in Chief,9b the sub-
that dispatches & consequently to do so, told you He had sent
orders have been near 3 weeks at to occupy George Town. & gallies
C. Town, & that they may be ex- & boats into that River for that
pected every hour nay ought to purpose that unless you did 0.
have been (had Col. Balfour done Town would be lost,
his duty) with you long since. 6c risk a 3d of your Force He
la safest underlined. relieved you from all apprehension
2a effectual means underlined. & you knew it before you had
3c it surely was safer to go marched 4 days,
back to S. Carolina — nor can 7c what say Lord Rawdon &
there be the least doubt but that C Balfour to this,
it was the most effectual, 8d if that was all that Coll
4c return by Waggamaw my Balfour sent yr Lordship he ought
good Lord. to have been dismissed the ser-
5a you know my good Lord you vice. With respect to the rest
might have passed the Bayernin I refer you to Number 5.
that Coll Balfour intreated you 9b disobeys his orders which
7o
CLINTON CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
stance of which, then transmitted to me,la was, that
General Phillips had2c'3a been detached to the
Chesapeak, and pat under my orders ; which induced
me to hope, that solid operations might be adopted
[ viii ] in that quarter : and I was most firmly per
suaded, that, until Virginia was reduced,4d we could
not hold the more southern provinces ; and that,
after its reduction, they would fall without much
resistance, and be retained without much difficulty.5*-
With these sentiments, I joined General Phillips's
corps at Petersburgh on the 2Oth of May, a few days
after his death ; but from his papers, and dispatches
from the Commander in Chief, directed to him,
which I received at that place on the 24th of May,
I found there were other projects in contemplation,
which to me were entirely new.6d*7c*8c* The Corn-
were to cover S. Carolina marches
into the most sickly province at
the worst of seasons & uncertain
of having a covering fleet there ;
Complains of not having orders
& opinions & tho he knows they
are coming to him does not wait
for them, but at the risk of all
these losses, and in direct disobe
dience to his orders marches into
Virginia as the safest and most
effectual means &c. &c.
la who ever did transmit that
as the substance transmitted
anything but the substance these
dispatches did not inform your
Lordship that Gen Phillips had
been detached, but that he
waited the Event of a Naval
action to be detached, & the
same dispatches informed you, I
was determined to withdraw all
but a Small Place of Arms in the
sickly season, in short these dis
patches all but forbid your going
into Virginia, by telling you the
French Fleet were there.
2c if Col Balfour sent your
Lordship that substance He de
ceived you.
3a had underlined.
4d you was as firmly persuaded
you ought not to undertake the
reduction of Virginia in the month
of June and that if you succeeded
you could not hope to keep it or
remain in safety in that Province
unless we had a permanent super
iority at sea which at the time
you marched you had not the
least reason to hope for or expect.
5a own honestly my good Lord
did you Ever think operations in
Virginia safe, practicable or likely
to succeed, without a covering
Fleet did you expect one when
you forced operations there ?
6d But which ought to have
been considered as orders to yr
Lordship (for such they had been
to Genl Phillips) till you reed
My Letters of the 29th of May
by which your Ldship was left at
Liberty to follow your own Plan
if you had any.
7c how would your hopes of
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER
71
mander in Chief having desired General Phillips
to give his opinion concerning the scheme of opera
tions in the Upper Chesapeak, and the design upon
Philadelphia, I thought it my duty, as I was then
in his place, to offer mine : which was, that I could
not see sufficient grounds for approving of either
of these schemes ; nor indeed could I bring myself
to think any other plan, but the attempt to reduce
Virginia, at that time either expedient or impor-
tant.lb- But I informed Sir Henry Clinton that I
should repair to Williamsburgh about the time
when I should probably receive his answer,2a in
order to be in readiness to execute his com-[ ix ]
mands ; and that I should employ the intermediate
space in destroying such of the enemy's stores and
magazines, as might be within my reach.
the Comr in chief having adopted
solid operation in Virginia at
that unhealthy season have been
founded you would have seen by
these dispatches & a copy of his
instructions to Gen Phillips that
Genl waited the event of a naval
action (which equally imported
you to know) before he was
detatched ; — and that His corps
was to be withdrawn to the
northward in June leaving only
a weak detatchment in Chesapeak
during the unhealthy season,
you would have done well to
have recollected also that even if
you could have succeeded in tak
ing Virginia you must have been
convinced it could not be kept
without a Fleet ; till you were
certain therefore of having that
superior permanent Fleet you
should not have risked it. doing
it also by a move which lost you
those very provinces you wish to
secure is conduct which deserves
a name I shall not give it. That
which you would have been in
formed of had you received his
dispatches from C. Town before
you quitted Wilmington.
8c I certainly ever did declare
against it till I was sure of a
permanent superiority at sea.
lb I on the Contrary till then
was perfectly assured we ought
not to have attempted Virginia
for whi of naval superiority could
at the Carolinas &
which you would not have been
ignorant of had you read the dis
patches being at C. Town.
2a my answer my good Lord
was of course determined by the
orders I had received to adopt
your Plan of conquering Virginia,
not to take a man from you, but
after the Hurricane season to
reinforce you to the utmost ; you
knew from G. Phillips papers
what had been my Plan if you
had not broke in upon it, finding
you not inclined to pursue your
own, unless I removed the whole
army from N. York to that bury
ing ground you had plac'd yours
72 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
laWhoever reads the Correspondence will see,
that, since Sir Henry Clinton had declared positively
in his first, and in several subsequent dispatches,
against the plan of reducing Virginia,2d>3a no ex
plicit alternative was left to me, between complying
with the requisition (contained in his letters of the
nth and i5th of June) of such troops as I could
spare from a healthy defensive station, or engaging
in operations in the Upper Chesapeak :4a The
choice5a of an healthy situation was controlled by
other material considerations ;6a for, whilst he stated
in such strong terms the imminent danger of New
York, or the important effects, which he expected
from the expedition against Philadelphia, I did not
think myself authorized to detain any part of the
troops he so earnestly required ;7d merely upon
my opinion of the difference of the quality of the
air of Williamsburgh, York, or Portsmouth ; from
the latter of which only, as it was already fortified,
I could afford an immediate detachment. And with
respect to the operations in the Upper Chesa-[ x ]
peak, it will be remarked, that, although that plan
in. I recommended my Plan, ority at sea for reasons too
which you thought proper to obvious to him to need mention-
disapprove ; I then apprehen- ing.
sive of a visit of a French 3a against to Virginia underlined.
armament from the W. Indies, 4a this blends a number of
recommend a respectable Place of different subjects the first Requi-
Arms & leaving as few troops as sition was not complied with ;
possible in that sickly Province. nor the second at a distant period
la from this Sir H Clinton from the first.
did disapprove of the Plan for 5a what were those considera-
reducing Virginia and his Lord- tions ?
ship rather adopted His own 6a from the subject entirely —
which failed ; then sent a Part 7d Read it once more My good
of the army to Sir Henry Clinton Lord You will find that till you
after His Lordship had established had passed the James and gone
a defensive Situation in the to Portsmouth I called for none
Carolinas. except such as you could spare
2d Sir Henry Clinton was al- from a Healthy respectable defen-
ways of opinion that until North sive &c. &c. On the Williams-
Carolina was reduced and we burg Neck at Williamsburg or
were sure of a permanent superi- York.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER
73
had been for some time under the consideration
of the Commander in Chief, he did not seem inclined
to take more share in the responsibility than barely
to recommend it :la-2b-3d and many reasons, but
particularly my recent failure in a similar attempt,
deterred me from undertaking it, without an explicit
instruction. Accordingly, that I might be enabled
to comply with those orders of the nth and i5th
of June, I passed James-river, (my remaining force
being insufficient to fortify and maintain a post on
the Williamsburgh Neck) and embarked the troops
required with all possible dispatch. And it will
be seen by the Correspondence, that the Commander
in Chiefs opinion of the indispensable necessity of
an harbour for line of battle ships only appears
in his letter of the nth of July,4d<5a after he had
la to General Phillips I had
ordered it, but to your Lordship
I only recommended it in case
you had no Plan of your own, or
should think operation in Virginia
at that season dangerous, after
being ordered to adopt and sup
port your Plan I could not with
propriety direct another.
2b was not G. Phillips posi
tively ordered to carry it into exe
cution if L. C had not come —
was it not L. C duty to obey all
orders he found in Virga on his
arrival altho out of delicacy I did
not repeat the order, but only
recommended, referring him how
ever to the orders he should find
there.
3d I had ordered Genl Phillips
to carry it into execution. The
Minister at first approved but the
King afterwards disapproved and
ordered me to adopt your Plan,
not thinking it likely your L4-
ship sd have any Plan in such a
climate in that advanced season I
took the Liberty to recommend
that which I had before ordered
and which was approved by the
Kings Cabinet. A second time
Alas too late.
4d It was then for the first time
that the Admiral informed me
that a Place of arms to cover a
station for line of battle ships
which was since your Lordship
had forced solid operation in
Chesapeak absolutely necessary
According to the spirit of My or
ders I am willing to acknowledge
that not liking Old Point Comfort
you did well in taking York and
Gloucester in York River but you
should have informed me of the
defects if any as you had done of
Old P. Comfort in Jame's River.
5a until the Admiral informed
me that a Naval Station for ships
of the line was absolutely neces
sary, tis true I never gave your
Lordship positive orders to occupy
one. If you mean to insinuate
(by what follows) an instance of
my indicision others who read
our correspondence will be more
10
74
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
been acquainted, that the troops, intended for the
expedition against Philadelphia, would be soon ready
to sail.
Hampton~roadla was recommended by that order ;
but, as it was, upon examination, found totally unfit
for the purpose desired, every person can judge,
whether the order did not then, in its spirit, become
positive2b to occupy York and Gloucester ;3a the
only harbour in the Che[ xi Jsapeak, that I knew
of then, or indeed that I have heard of since, in
which line of battle ships can be received, and pro
tected against a superior naval force :4a and, as the
harbour was the indispensable object, I thought
it unnecessary5d<6d to enter into a description of the
disadvantage of the ground, against a land attack,
since there remained no other choice. 7d*
liberal I believe recollect my good
Lord that of
la in James river.
2b certainly not. read my
letter to G. Phillips dated March
loth 8 1 page Lord Cornwallis
reply 175, does not this clearly
imply that if he had forcible
objects to the station required
by the admiral as the above
certainly was he must decline it,
at least his Lordship should have
waited my answer, but I am
convinced of the necessity of a
place of aims to cover large ships
from the Admirals opinion, &
convinced we should have the
promised fleet to cover our
operations I should have directed
him still to take old P. Comfort
notwithg the objections he made,
for reasons obvious.
3a line of battle ships you
had none with you but every
ship you had with you except
those you sunk were burned by
the Enemys batteries, such
effectual Protection you gave in
York river which you had chosen
in preference, when I recomd.
4a tho you might have saved
part of your army any time
before that of the Enemy was
assembled, I never blamed you
for not attempting it under such
circumstances I repeat that
nothing could save you but a
Fleet or well chosen respectable
Place of arms till that Fleet
should arrive the Minister pro
mised a covering Fleet, you
implyed that your Post was re
spectable had it not been so you
should have said so. had you
told me at first what you did at
last I should have if I had had
no hopes of joining you have
advised you to save what you
could your moving army ;
5d You cannot surely be in
earnest My good Ld
6d unnecessary underlined.
7d My letter of the 2d
August 8 1 explains all this, page
237 Lord Cornwallis reply.
read my letters of 19 June.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER
75
When the arrival of the French fleet, and the
approach of General Washington, were known to Sir
Henry Clinton, it will appear by the Correspondence,
that his promises of relief in personla'2a were uni
form ;3b-4d without giving me the smallest particle of
discretionary power,5d<6a different from holding the
posts that I occupied. Every reader will therefore
be competent to judge, whether, under these circum
stances, and as I could not but suppose that the Com
mander in Chief spoke from a perfect7a knowledge
of his own resources,8a'9b<10d and of the force of the
enemy, it would have been justifiable in me either to
abandon, by the evacuation of York, a considerable
quantity of artillery, the ships of war, transports,
provisions, stores, and hospitals, or, by venturing an
action, without the most manifest advantage, to run
the risk of precipitating the loss of them.llb*
wherein I tell you that De
Grasse will most probably come
upon the Coast with a consider
able armament. I rept a respect
able Post.
la by a direct move by sea
when the Admiral would convoy
or convey me.
2a Whenever the Fleet should
convoy or convey me.
3b all depending on the fleet.
4d whenever the Admiral
should convey him.
5d Under what power did your
Lordship act, when you movd
into Virginia contrary to orders —
when you quitted the Williams-
burg Neck 5th July — when you
chose York and Gloucester in
preference to old Pt Comfort wch
you were ordered to take, either
discretionary power of pressing
contingencies, no further Com
ment, my good Lord is I believe
necessary
6a discretionary power under
lined.
7a perfect underlined.
8a My own yes, but I did not
know the event of the Naval
action of the 5th Sept till the
1 3th or the number of the
Enemy s Fleet till the 23*1 or
whether the Navy would or could
make an attempt to succour you
till I had met the Admirals in
Council on the 24th Sept.
9b I had informed L. C we
had 2 1 sail. He knew what I
did not tell E, that the Enemy
had 37.
lOd By my letter of the 2d and
6th Septr your Lordship was
made acquainted with all my re
sources those of the Enemy you
reported to me in your answer of
the zyth till I received that letter
I knew not the great disparity of
numbers in the two Fleets.
lib Can his Lordsp be serious
when he calls it venturing an
action against St Simons Corps,
or La fayettes or both.
76
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
[ xii ] Although the Marquis de la Fayette ad
vanced his light troops early in September to
"Williamsburgh, he did not take post there with his
army till reinforced with the French troops from the
West Indies, under the command of Brigadier de St.
Simon. I could, at that time, after leaving some
slight guards in the works, have marched out a little
more than four thousand men, partly composed of
troops unaccustomed to action.la'2d<3b- The enemy
were in a strong position, and considerably superior
in number, but I should have attacked them without
hesitation, if I had thought myself at liberty, after
a victory, 4b to escape into the Carolinas, with the
la I do not know a single ginia you had above 7000 men in
the worst of Climates at the worst
of seasons. I fear your sick List
was long, you had 800 man of
war sailors, many transport do.
Loyalists in number & I have
always understood thousands of
poor blacks, in justice to these
corps I must say they were under
most perfect Prussian discipline,
they had been repeatedly in fire
Regt that had not acquired credit
in action, if there were any such
you would probably have left
them in the works. St. Simon
had 3000 sickly raw troops from
West Indies La Fayette 2000.
you had includg sailors & negros
&c near 9000. you surely had
more than 4000 to move with
but that was quite enough,
read Tarlton on this intended
move, His Lordship had the
Guards. 2. Btt Light Infy 2.Bt
17 Regt 23*1 33d 43d 71. 76th
8oth Ansp. 2 Battn Hess. P.
Here. Bose. P. TOO. Q. Ranger &
this Legion besides detatchments
1000 men, from artillery cavalry,
&c &c which of all these His
Lordship calls Troops unacus-
tomed to action I am at a loss to
guess,
KB. He marched out after the
siege near 8000 men.
2d look at the Return of your
army once again My good Lord
is there a single Corps except the
two Batns of Anspach
that had not repeatedly reed your
lordships thanks on service. The
day you took the command in Vir-
& their own was such as had
forced a superior Enemy to preci
pitate retreat in Force, in June
80.
3b look at the Corps under his
Comd is there a single Regt that
had not served with eclat if there
had been surely he would have
left them in his works.
what service had any of the
French troops seen, what the
general character of the Virginia
Militia.
4b he who thought himself at
liberty to march into Virginia
contrary to the orders of the Com
mander in chief at the risk of the
Carolinas, and all the corps which
he had directed to cooperate in
that fatal march, should not have
hesitated proving the great superi-
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 77
troops that were able to march. No other object
appeared sufficient to justify this measure ; for our
labour would have been materially interruptedla by
an action,2a and even a victory, unless it had extended
to the annihilation of the Marquis de la Fayette's
corps, without considerable loss on our side, (two
events not to be expected) would not have enabled
us to make a successful defence against the army then
approaching, under the command of General Wash
ington :3d But a defeat4a would probably have been
followed with the immediate loss of our post, which,
until the end of Septem[ xiii ]ber, was in a most
defenceless state : and as I could never have proved,55
that I should not have been relieved, I should have
been exposed to public execration, as a man, who,
having reason to expect the early arrival of the Com
mander in Chief to supersede him in his command,
had, in hopes of personal reputation from a victory,
sacrificed the essential interest of his country.6d- Far
less could I have ventured an action without the most
evident advantage, after the junction of General
Washington ; a decision, which nothing could have
justified, but a certainty that I could not be relieved:
in that case, I should have fought before I was
hemmed in by the enemy's works, believing a vic-
ority of the Enemy's Fleet to would have been lost so very su-
have saved what he could of that perior in Numbers and discipline
army if La Fayette had been beat to those corps you could not ap-
in such ground he was undone, if prehend defeat.
he had averted action L. C. 4a defeat underlined.
crossed the James & retired at his 5b note on this part mem book
leisure. Ko. 2.
la materially interrupted un- 6d Are you quite so sure My
derlined. good Lord that something too
2a 12 hours of those troops who like that may not be said on
went out. your breaking into the Comr in
3d to endeavour to beat an chiefs Plan for the Campaign 81
Army en detail which is coming forcing him into Operations
to besiege you is generally thought which heed not be prepared for
an object if La Fayette and St and without being certain of a
Simon had retired you were but covering Fleet, had always de-
where you were 24 hours only dared against.
78 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
tory,la over great disparity of numbers in the open
field, to be possible ; but a successful defence, with
out relief, in such a post, and against such an attack,
to be impossible. 2b*
My resolution at last, of attempting to escape with
part of the army, could only have been dictated by
despair. The enemy's immense train of battering
artillery had now nearly reduced3a our fresh earthen
works to ruins : The attacks were conducted with
so much caution,4a that we had no opportunity of
making any material impression upon them :5d The
batteries [ xiv ] of the second parallel, which I knew
in a few hours would compel us to surrender at
discretion, were nearly completed ; and I had then
lost all hopes of relief, If the sudden gale of wind
had not prevented our passage of the river, Brigadier
de Choisy, who lay with a small corps a few miles
from Gloucester, would have been attacked at day
break by the greatest part of our force ; after which,
being without baggage, I should have gained the
upper country by rapid marches,6a'7b mounting my
infantry, by collecting horses on the way, and leaving
my intended route doubtful, until I was opposite
to the fords of the great rivers ;8d I then intended
to have turned off to the northward,9d expecting
la tho there are who say that Carte du Pays The Enemy seems
the Enemy were so sickly &c &c to have respected you so much and
that if you had attacked their to have advanced with so much
whole army you must have beaten circumspection that it became
them. I am not of that number. you to be cautious in yr sorties.
2b His Lordship is clearly 6a If any body could you
right. could but you told me yourself
3a very true. Washington had scouted the Idea.
4a Washington knew he had 7b you told me yourself Wash-
to do with an army of 8000 well ington laughed at the Idea of
disciplined & commanded. your escaping to 1ST. York.
5d It has been I know insinu- 8d Alas I fear the Enemy was
ated that yr Lordship did not nearer those fords than yr Lord-
check the Enemys approaches as ship.
much as you ought and might 9d To the Southward perhaps
have done but as far as I cd pre- you mght have escaped My good
sume to judge ignorant of the Lord with your Moving Corps.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 79
that the enemy would principally take their measures
to prevent my escape to the southward. The success
of this attempt would, no doubt, have been pre
carious ; and I cannot say that it would have been
practicable to have reached New York ; but, in our
desperate situation, I thought it well deserved a trial.
I shall make no other remark upon the enumera
tion that is made of the troops under my orders,
than that a great part of them were dispersed in
garrisons, totally out of my reach, la and that some
regiments had hardly any ex[ xv Jistence, but in
name. I am not in possession of the general returns
of the southern district for the year 1781, but those
of the corps under my immediate command, at
different periods, are annexed to the Correspond
ence. 2d
During that campaign, I reckoned among the
many other embarrassments which I had to encounter,
that, on some important occasions, it was impossible
to communicate with, or to receive instructions
from the Commander in Chief, in time to enable
me to act according to his wishes :3a<4c But, I
la I cannot pretend to say this instance your Lordship does
what you had after the desertions, it without reason ; for you say
sickness battles &c &c &c but I yourself a frigate with my dis-
know what I left with you & patches was coming to you, from
what I afterwards sent you. Charles Town, not 12 hours sail
2d I left 5000 Men with your from you.
Lordship in 80, Genl Leslie 4c This was also your Lord-
joined you with 3000 More I ships Complaint When you
sent Arnold with 2000, 500 moved from Wilmington into
more to Chesapeak to cooperate Virginia, those who read will
with yr Ldship I sent Genl Phil- judge wher such complaint was
lips to take the command and well founded, in that instance;
with him 3000 more to these I you lament in your letter to the
added 1500 Anspachs you had Minister you are about to make
therefore acting with you and a desperate move, without the
for you near 15000 Men. while Com. in Chiefs approbation, in
I at New York had not more the same letter you say there is
than 12 ooo including Provincials a frigate coming from Charles
3a we had both of us but too Town, (not 1 2 hours sail from
much cause to complain, but in you) and expected every hour,
8o
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
trust, it will appear from the Correspondence now
laid before the public, — that our failure in North
Carolina was not occasioned by our want of force
to protect the rising of our friends, but by their
timidity, and unwillingness to take an active and
useful part,la*2c — that the move to Wilmington
was rendered necessary from the distresses of the
troops, and the sufferings of the numerous sick and
wounded,3a*4c<5d — that the march into Virginia
was undertaken for urgent65 reasons,7d which could
not admit of my waiting for the approbation of the
Commander in Chief, 8a<9a<10c — that I did not
you say your army is in no state
to move, & yet you march before
those dispatches arrive ; & I now
appeal to yourself, whether if
you had received them you would
have marched into Virginia.
la reduced from 3000 to 700
by desertion, illness, and action
not two days food and in actual
retreat how could y L. expect
them to risk.
2c how could you expect they
should after you had sacrificed
them 9 months before, & tho you
obtained a brilliant Victory in
March 81. it had all the conse
quences of a defeat, you had not
provisions or arms to give them ;
you were reduced from 3 500 to
700 men, you were in actual re
treat when you invited them to
join you.
3a from Crosscreek you were
not above 60 miles from Campden,
90 from Wilmington.
4c pardon me my good Lord
for these very reasons you should
have fallen back from Crosscreek
to Campden, where Lord Rawdon
would supply all your wants, it
was the shortest & safest way,
by doing so, you obey'd your
Commr in Chief's Orders; you
fulfilled your " own promises, to
cover S. Carolina."
5d Camden was nearer.
6b urgent underlined.
7d every reason for going
back to C. Town no good one I
fear for going into Virginia —
what say the Cabinet in their
Letter Page 49, 51.
8a All the urgent reasons
were on the Contrary against
your going.
9a had you waited a few
hours more the arrival of the
dispatches from Charles Town,
you would have found all the
urgent reasons were against your
going.
10c on the contrary my good
Lord, all the urgent reasons were
against your going into Virginia,
for by that move you exposed the
Carolinas & Florida, and Charles
Town, which "you had been
ordered to consider " as the
primary object," you risked your
own Corps, that of Gen. Phillips,
you broke in upon the C. in
Chief Plan, you forced operations
upon him which he was not pre
pared for, and had alivays declared
against, in the most inimical
Province, in the most unhealthy
EARL CORNWALLI&S ANSWER
81
establish the station in Virginia, but only reinforce
it?ia.2c.3b — tfrnt j occupied the posts of York
and Gloucester by order,4a-5b-6d-7c and was in-
province, at the worst season, in
a province where your army could
not be supply'd from the country
at least in a province from whence
your army could not retreat, &
where it could not remain iu
safety unless covered by a Fleet,
or a respectable Place of arms till
that Fleet should arrive.
la Tis true your Lordship did
only reinforce it ; but tis Equally
so that if you had not reinforced
it, it would have been (except
a small post to cover Frigates)
have been withdrawn in the ex
posed, & sickly seasons.
2c true my good Lord you
did not Establish the station in
Virginia, a small station was es
tablished at your desire to favour
your operations while the season
permitted your acting in the
Carolinas ; but meant to be with
drawn when those should cease ;
and consequently if your Lord
ship had not come into Virginia,
forced solid operation there ; re
commended it to the minister, &
the Comr in Chief had not in con
sequence been ordered to support
it, your Lordship will acknow
ledge it would except a small
post have been withdrawn in June.
3b S H Clinton never had an
Idea of solid establishment in
Virginia till the provinces to the
southward were recovered, till
then S H C had no other views
than of a small station to cover
frigates and troops for desultory
expedition in the healthy season
to cooperate with you, your
Lordsp therefore did establish
vide page 96 Observns.
4a no my Good Lord you
were ordered to occupy old Point
Comfort securing a naval station
in James River, not in York
River, you were permitted tis
true to fortifye York as an addl
security to O P Comfort ; but I
did not disapprove of the choice
you had made for the reasons
you gave in your letter of the
24. August, when you took it : —
5b read all my Corce with
Genl Phillips, is there the least
Idea of establishment in Virginia,
merely a small station in Eliza
beth river to cover frigates &
desultory expeditions, during the
season for operation in that un
healthy climate ; I appeal whether
I ever gave L. C. an order to
occupy York & Gloucester : of
the prospects L. C. could better
judge than I. he knew the
Enemy were 37 sail the 8th Of
Sepr and that we had only 21.
I did not know the E. number
till the 23d Sep :
6d I can with more propriety
say contrary to My Orders but I
have never yet charged you
publickly with disobedience.
7c by whose order I know
not but certainly contrary to
S H Clinton's order : read his
order of the i ith July page L. C.
reply 167. it orders L. C. to ex
amine and fortify old point Com
fort which covers Hampton road
in James river, it permits L. C. to
fortify York also as an additional
security to old P. Comfort but
his Lordship moving the naval
Station to York river instead of
James River and fortifying York
II
82
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
[ xvi Jduced to remain in them by the prospect
of relief, uniformly held out to me by the Com
mander in Chief ia-2c.3d.4a? _ and, that, during the
considerable interval between my arrival at Peters-
burgh, and that of the French fleet in the Chesapeak,
my corps was completely at the disposal of Sir Henry
Clinton,5b*6b either to be withdrawn, or employed
in the Upper Chesapeak, or sent back to the
Carolinas 7a-8c>9d? — and consequently, that my
3d if I gave you hopes of relief
it was from the Navy I reed
them and if that Navy sd have
sailed sooner or Yr Ldship could
have defended yr Post longer you
would have been succoured.
4a could I have conceived
you would so soon alter your
opinion & described that ground
so differently as you do in that
of the 20 Octr I should have
ordered you at all events to
remain at Old Point Comfort.
5b Lord Corns Corps ought to
have been at S H C. disposal,
but it was not, the minister
ordered him not to take a man
from Virginia, but to go there
with all He could spare from N.
York.
6b His Lordship is pleased to
acknowledge he and his corps was
under the orders of the Com* in
Chief — tis great condescension—
but the publick will recollect that
the Cabinet disapproving of S H
C plan of a reduced defensive
post in E. river during the season
of operation to the northward,
had ordered S H C not to take
a single man from Virginia other
wise there can be no doubt but
that S H C disapproving of L C
march into Virginia would have
sent him back, if he had not been
ordered to support him there.
7a read again the Ministers
and Gloucester to secure the
Naval Station in York river is so
far from being by order of S H C
every body will agree that it was
contrary to his order, tho S H C
afterwards acquiesced in it.
la Here your Lordship alters
your tone ; assurances I certainly
never gave you ; Prospect or hope
you might have, & could you
have held out longer, or the
Fleet sailed sooner you might
have been saved, but surely
S H C. cannot be in the least
responsable for either your con
duct or that of the Navy.
2c No my good Lord, the only
order you had was to occupy old
point Comfort covering a naval
station in James River — in strict
ness you acted contrary to orders
by removing the naval station to
York River ; I did not however
blame it then because you told
me that it was the only station
in which you could hope to give
effectual protection to line of
Battle ships, tis true you had no
line of Battle ships with you when
you were besieged ; but the
reader will judge of the sort of
protection you could have given
had they been with you : when
they are informed, that all the
ships during the siege which you
did not sink were burned by the
Enemy.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 83
conduct and opinions were not the causes of the
catastrophe, ld which terminated the unfortunate
campaign of 1781.
CORNWALLIS.
MANSFIELD-STREET,
Feb. 10, 1783.20.
letter my good Lord, Page 49 my
Narrative, & the Kings orders to
me not to take a man from Vir
ginia till that Province was Con
quered : you surely will not then
say that your Lordships Corps
was at my disposal any time
before I received the Ministers
letters of the yth and I4th July
disapproving of your Lordships
Plan ; approving at last of that
of the Comr in Chief, wch how
ever He did not receive untill
He had embarked to endeavour
to relieve you from a Situation
in which your ill timed, injudici
ous, ill-fated march into Virginia
had engaged us ; and therefore I
must beg leave to repeat ; that
your Conduct and Councils did,
in the first instance contribute to
the Catastrophe which terminated
the unfortunate Campaign 81 ;
His Majesty's Cabinet had also
their share ; & the admiral in the
West Indies His great very great
share.
S H Clinton S'en lave les
mains
8c your Lordship has surely
forgot the Kings order to S. H.
Clinton not to take a man from
Virginia till that province was
conquered ; & that S H C could
not under such orders dispose of
your Lordships corps, & I flatter
myself you will do him the Jus
tice to believe, that, if He had
thought himself at liberty to do
so, He would have ordered your
Lordship to have' followed his
Plan ; or joined him at N. York ;
or sent you back to Carolinas;
in Either of which cases, the
Catastrophe of York Town could
not have hap'ned, nor could
America have been lost. As it is
S H Clinton has only to say that
by Lord Cornwallis coming into
Virginia contrary to S H C's
orders, & forcing operation there ;
and Lord Rodney's not bringing,
or sending a Fleet to cover such
operation according to orders
the Catastrophe, which ter
minated the unfortunate Cam
paign, and put an End to British
Empire in America has been
produced; and of all which
S. H. C. S'en lave les mains.
9d I must intreat you to read
the Cabinet letter Pages 49. 51.
once more then tell me if you
really think Yr Corps was at My
disposal or whether I was at
Liberty at any time till I reed the
King's Approbation of My Plan
to have removed a Man from
Virginia till that Province was
conquered.
Id Therefore your Lordship's
Conduct and your Councils if
not the only causes were at least
the primary causes of that Cata
strophe.
2c The Narrative was written,
in the Hope that the charges
therein contained (tho expressed
in as moderate terms as possible)
would have induced Lord Corn
wallis to have desired a Court of
Enquiry or Martial, among the
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
many implied charges it contained
were misconception, Misrepre
sentation, and Disobedience of
Orders, neglecting under frivo
lous, nay sometimes false pre
tences opportunities of beating
an Inferior Corps, and crushing
an army en detail which He knew
was coming to besiege him. For
not occupying the naval Station
He was ordered to take under
pretext that it did not answer
the purpose of protecting the
Men of War, & then chusing
another in preference under Idea
that He could give "Effectual
protection," altho it appeared
afterwards none such could have
been given, for every ship He did
not sink, was burned by the
Enemy. For telling his Comr in
chief that the Plan for fortifying
the Post had been judiciously
chosen after examination & sur
vey ; that it would be compleated
in 7 weeks and that He could
then spare from its defence 1000
men, & when attacked in it 8
weeks after to quit it without a
shot, give to the Enemy " Ground
which commanded in a near ad
vance all the rest of His works,"
(Washingtons words) and which
had been constructed in haste,
were unfinished, Commanded, and
infiladed, and in which He is re
duced to extremity in 7 days
open trenches, for saying He had
only 400 intrenching tools when
He began His works at York
Town, altho He had by formal
return of his Engineer 992, &
had on his first arrival in Vir
ginia sent quantities away, —
His asserting in his official letter
that I had promised him the ex
ertions of the Navy as well as
army in all my letters, & that
those assurances had prevented
his attacking La Fayette before
his junction with Washington,
or His Escaping immediately
upon that junction altho He
acknowledges afterwards, I had
not given him any such assur
ances till 3 days after the Junc
tion of the Combined Armies had
taken place — the mutulating my
letter of the 24 Sepr & asserting
I had told him in it the Fleet
would positively sail about the 3<1
of October, & acknowledging after
wards I had only said I had every
reason to hope it would sail about
that time, telling me his Engineer
had made a regular survey of the
ground wch He denied
COEEESPONDENCE between
Gen. Sir HENEY CLINTON, K.B. Commander in Chief,
and Lieut. Gen. Earl COENWALLIS.
PART I.
EELATIVE TO THE CAMPAIGN IN
NOETH CAEOLINA.
Number I. [i] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
K.B. dated Camp on Turkey-Creek, Broad River, Jan.
18, 1781. see Letter p 318.
EARL COENWALLIS'S ANSWER 85
Number II. [5] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, dated New York, March 5th, 1781. (Re
ceived June, 1781.) see Letter p 331.
Number III. [9] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Camp near Wilmington, April
10, 1781. see Letter p 395.
Number IV. [13] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, dated New-York, April 30, 1781. (Re
ceived, June, 1781.) see Letter p 441. Duplicate.
[18] Inclosed in Number IV. Sir Henry Clinton,
K.B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, April 13,
1781. see Letter p 405.
Number V. [20] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Wilmington, April 23, 1781. see
Letter p 424. Inclosed [22] in Number V. Copy of
Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 6, to Lord George
Germain, dated Guildford, March 17, 1781. see
Letter p 353. Inclosed [23] in Number V. Copy of
Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 7, to Lord George
Germain, dated Guildford, March 17, 1781. see
Letter p 354. Inclosed [34] in No. V. By the Right
Honourable Charles Earl Cornwallis, Lieutenant-
general of his Majesty's Forces, &c. &c. &c. A pro
clamation, see proclamation p 327. Inclosed [35] in
Number V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Dispatch,
No. 8, to Lord George Germain, dated Guildford,
1 7th March, 1781. see Letter p 363. Inclosed [44]
in No. V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Dispatch, No.
9, to Lord George Germain, dated Wilmington,
April 1 8, 1781. see Letter p 414. Inclosed [47] in
IX o. V. North Carolina. By Charles Earl Cornwallis,
Lieu tenant- General of his Majesty's Forces, &c. &c.
&c. A Proclamation, see proclamation p 371. Inclosed
[48] in No. V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch,
No. 10, to Lord George Germain, dated Wilmington,
April 1 8th, 1781. see Letter p 416. Inclosed [50] in
No. V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 1 1,
to Lord George Germain, dated Wilmington, April
23d, 1781. see Letter p 420.
86 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Number VI. [53] State of the Troops that marched
with the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-
General Earl Cornwallis. see p 376.
CORRESPONDENCE between
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. Commander in Chief,
and Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.
PART II.
RELATIVE TO EARL CORNWALLIS'S MARCH INTO VIRGINIA.
Number I. [55] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781.
see Letter p 426. (Inclosed [56] in Number I.) Copy
of Earl Cornwallis's Letter to Major-general Phillips,
dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781. see Letter p 427.
Number II. [58] Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, dated New York, March 2d, 1781. Eeceived
by Earl Cornwallis in Virginia, see Letter p 341.
Number III. [61] Copy of Sir Henry Clinton's
Instructions to Major-general Phillips, dated Head
Quarters, New York, March loth, 1781. Received
by Earl Cornwallis in Virginia, see p 347.
Number IV. [64] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Petersburgh, in Virginia, 2Oth
May, 1781. see Letter p 476.
Number V. [67] Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, dated New- York, May 2Qth, 1781. (Received
July 12, 1781, from. Lieut. Col. Macpherson.) see
Letter p 493.
Number VI. [74] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, Virginia, July 24,
1781. see Letter ii. 88.
Number VII. [77] State of the Troops that
marched with the Army under the Command of
Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis. see p 457.
CORRESPONDENCE between
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. Commander in Chief,
and Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.
PART III.
RELATIVE TO THE OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA.
Number I. [79] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 87
Clinton, dated Byrd's Plantation, James River, May
26, 1781. see Letter p 487.
Number II. [80] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Byrd's Plantation, North of
James River, 26th of May, 1781. see Letter p 487.
Number III. [85] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Major-general Phillips, dated March 14, 1781, half
past Two. (Received at Petersburgh by Earl
Cornwallis, May 20.) see Letter p 352.
Number IV. [87] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Major-general Phillips, dated New- York, March 24,
1781. (Received by Earl Cornwallis at Petersburg,
May 20.) see Letter p 373.
Number V. [90] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Major-General Phillips, dated New-York, April n,
1781. (Received by Earl Cornwallis, at Petersburg,
May 24.) see Letter p 401.
Number VI. [95] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Major-General Phillips, dated New-York, April 26th,
1781. (Received by Earl Cornwallis, at Petersburg,
May 24.) see Letter p 437. Inclosed [100] in No VI.
Substance of several Conversations had with Major-
general Phillips, on the Subject of Operations in the
Chesapeak, before his Embarkation on his Expedi
tion thither. (Received by Earl Cornwallis at
Petersburg, May 24.) see p 430.
Number VII. [105] [Secret, and most private.]
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Major-general Phillips,
dated New York, 3Oth April, 1781. (Received by
Earl Cornwallis at Petersburg.) see Letter p 450.
NumberVIII.[i 1 1] Sir Henry Clinton,K.B. to Major-
general Phillips, dated May 1 1 . (Received by Earl
Cornwallis at Petersburg, May 24.) see Letter p 474.
Number IX. [112] Sir Henry Clinton to Earl
Cornwallis, da ted New- York, June 1 5, 1 78 1 . (Received
June 26, 1781, from Ensign Amiel.) see Letter ii. 24.
Duplicate [113] inclosed in Number IX. Sir
Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York,
June n, 1781. (Received the 26th of June from
Ensign Amiel.) see Letter ii. 18.
88 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Number X. [118] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Williamsburgh, June 30, 1781.
see Letter ii. 31.
Number XI. [126] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, June 28, 1781.
(In Cypher.) (Keceived July 8, 1781.) see Letter ii. 29.
Inclosed [128] in No XI. List of Cannon, Stores,
&c. to be sent from Virginia, see ii. 30.
Number XII. [129] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. Cobham, July 8, 1781. see Letter ii. 56.
Number XIII. [132] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. Suffolk, July 12, 1781. see Letter ii. 66.
Number XIV. [133] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, June 8th, 1781.
(Received July i2th, 1781, from Lieut. Col.M'Pherson.)
see Letter ii. 14.
Number XV. [137] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated at New York, i9th of June,
1781. (Received July 12, 1781, from Lieut. Col.
M'Pherson.) see Letter ii. 26.
Number XVI. [141] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, July ist, 1781.
(Received July 12, 1781, by the Orpheus.) see
Letter ii. 41.
Number XVII. [142] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. Suffolk, 1 7th July, 1781. see Letter 'ii. 79.
Number XVIII. [145] Sir Henry Clinton to Earl
Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters, New- York, July
nth, 1781. (In Cypher.) Received from Brig.
Maj. Bowes, July 2Oth, at i A.M.) see Letter ii. 61.
Number XIX. [146] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New-York, July 15, 1781.
see Letter ii. 73.
Number XX. [152] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New-York, July 26, 1781. see
Letter ii. 98.
Number XXI. [153] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-Town, Virginia, 2Oth
August, 1781. see Letter ii. 130.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 89
CORRESPONDENCE between
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. Commander in Chief,
and Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.
PART. IV.
RELATIVE TO OCCUPYING AN HARBOUR FOR LINE OF
BATTLE SHIPS. lc'2e'
Number I. [161] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters, New-York, July 8th,
1781. (Received July 2 1 st, 1781, from Captain Staple-
ton.) see Letter ii. 49.
Number II. [167] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
lc As Lord Cornwallis and
his Friends assert that His Lord
ship occupied York river as a
Harbour for Ships of the line by
the order of S H C. & his
Lordship brings forward the fol
lowing correspondence to prove
it the reader must judge whether
such assertion is founded.
2e Altho' as a Naval Station
I always preferred Hampton
Road, yet, from all the informa
tion I had received prior to Lord
Cornwallis's letter of the 2oth
October, I had been induced to
think well of York and Gloucester
as a place of arms, securing a
Harbour for Line of Battle ships.
And the following Extract from
his Lordship's letter of the 26th
May shews that he himself had
the same opinion of it. "I
shall now proceed to dislodge La
Fayette from Richmond, and with
my Light Troops to destroy any
Magazines or Stores in the Neigh
bourhood, which may have been
collected either for his use or for
General Green's Army. From
thence I purpose to move to the
Neck of Williamsburg, which is
represented as healthy, and where
some subsistence may be procured,
and keep myself unengaged from
operations which might interfere
with your Plan for the Campaign
until I have the satisfaction of
hearing from you. I hope I shall
then have an opportunity to
receive better information than
has hitherto been in my power to
procure relative to a proper har
bour and place of Arms. At
present I am inclined to think
well of York. The objections to
Portsmouth are, that it cannot
be made strong without an Army
to defend it, that it is remarkably
unhealthy & can give no protec
tion to a Ship of the Line." For,
with respect to his Lordship's
Letter of the 3oth June, wherein
he says " Upon viewing York I
was clearly of opinion, that it far
exceeds our power consistent with
your Plans to make safe Defensive
Posts there and at Gloucester both
of which would be necessary for
the protection of shipping" it does
not give an opinion that the
Post was unfit for the purposes
proposed, but that he should not
have Troops enough to occupy it,
if he sent me the 3000 men,
which he understood my letter of
the 1 1 th June positively called for.
12
go CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters, New- York, July 1 1 ,
1 78 1 . (Received July 2 ist, 1 78 1, from Captain Staple-
ton.) see Letter ii. 62.
Number III. [ 1 70] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, Virginia, July 26,
1781. see Letter ii. 104. Inclosed [175] in No. III.
Extract of the Instructions of his Excellency Sir Henry
Clinton, to Major-general Phillips, dated New- York,
March 10, 1781. see p 347. Extract [175] of the Sub
stance of several Conversations that his Excellency Sir
Henry Clinton had with Major-general Phillips, on the
Subject of Operations in the Chesapeak, before his
Embarkation on his Expedition thither, dated April
26,1781. see p 4.30. Inclosed [177] in No. III. Copy
of the Report of Lieutenant Sutherland, Engineer,
dated Billy Ordnance Transport, Hampton Road,
July 25, 1781. see ii. 95. Inclosed [179] in No. III.
Copy of the Opinions of the Commanders of his
Majesty's Ships in Chesapeak, relative to Old Point
Comfort, dated Richmond, Hampton Road, July 26,
1781. see ii. 101.
Number IV". [180] Admiral Graves to Earl Corn
wallis, dated London, off Sandy Hook, 1 2th July, 1781.
see Letter ii. 67.
Number V. [181] Earl Cornwallis to Admiral
Graves, dated Portsmouth, July 26, 1781. see Letter
ii. 100.
Number VI. [182] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York, in Virginia, August 1 2,
1781. see Letter ii. 124.
Number VII. [183] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, New- York, August n, 1781. (In Cypher.)
(Received August 16, 1781.) see Letter ii. 123.
Number VIII. [185] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-town, i6th August, 1781.
see Letter ii. 126.
Number IX. [i 86] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York town, Virginia, 2 2d August,
1781. see Letter ii. 137.
EARL CORNWALLIS'S AN^TER gi
CORRESPONDENCE between
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. Commander in Chief,
and Lieut. Gen. Earl CCRNWALLIS.IC'
PART V.
RELATIVE TO THE DEFENCE OF YORK, IN VIRGINIA.
Number I. [189] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-town, in Virginia, 3ist
August, 1781. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 146.
Number II, [190] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clint on, K.B. dated York, ist September, 1781. (Writ
ten in Cypher on a Congress Note.) see Letter ii. 147.
Number III. [190] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York, in Virginia, 2d September,
1781. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 148.
Number IV. [191] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-town, Virginia, 4th Sep
tember, 1781. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 151.
Number V. [191] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-town, in Virginia, 8th
Sept. 1781. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 154.
Number VI. [193] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, Sept. 2, 1781. —
(In Cypher.) (Triplicate, — Received I5th September.)
see Letter ii. 149.
Number VII. [195] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, New- York, Sept. 6, at Noon, 1781. — (In
Cypher.) (Received 1 6th September.) seeLetterii. 152.
lc [On a separate sheet, sealed purpose required by the Admiral
to page 189] & Comr in Chief & for which he
read this correspondence who becomes responsable but S H
pleases they will observe that if Clinton now asserts L. C. disobey-
S H Clinton should admit for ed his orders in not fortifying
argument sake that Lord Corn- old point Comfort in James
wallis was justified in removing river, that he acted without his
the naval station from James orders in removing the naval
river to York river, without re- station to York river, & if S H
ceiving fresh instructions from C admits that the occupying a
the Commander in Chief, He station was by his order L C.
certainly could not be justified must admit that of York river,
on any other principle than that tho it did not meet his disap-
station which he had chosen in probation had never received his
preference would answer every fiat. Sir H. Clinton.
92 CLIXTOX-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Number VIII. [196] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York Town, in Virginia, i6th
Sept. 1781. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 156.
Number IX. [197] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl
Cornwallis, New York, Sept. 24, 1781. — (In Cypher.)
(Received September 29, 1781.) see Letter ii. 159.
Number X. [199] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated York-Town in Virginia, Sept. 29, 1781.
10 P.M. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 169.
Number XI. [200] Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, New-York, September 25, 1781. (Duplicate,
— in Cypher. — Received October 2.) see Letter ii. 163.
Number XII. [201] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated York-Town, Virginia, October 3, 1781.
(In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 174.
Number XIII. [202] Sir Henry Clinton to Earl
Cornwallis, dated New-York, September 30, 1781.
(Duplicate, — In Cypher.) (Received October 10,
from Major Cockran.) see Letter ii. 172.
Number XIV. [204] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-Town, Virginia, October
n, 1781. — 12 M. (In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 176.
Number XV. [205] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-Town, October 15, 1781.
(In Cypher.) see Letter ii. 188.
Number XVI. [206] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated York-Town, Virginia, October
20, 1781. see Letter ii. 205.
Inclosed [214] in Number XVI. Copy of Earl Corn-
wallis's Letter to General Washington, dated York,
in Virginia, October I7th, 1781. see Letter ii. 189.
Inclosed [215] in Number XVI. Copy of General
Washington's Letter to Earl Cornwallis, dated Camp
before York, i7th October, 1781. see Letter ii. 190.
Inclosed [215] in Number XVI. Copy of Earl
Cornwallis's Letter to General Washington, dated
York, in Virginia, 1 7th Oct. 1781. Half past Eour,
P.M. see Letter ii. 191.
Inclosed [2 1 7] in Number XVI. Copy of General
EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER 93
Washington's Letter to Earl Cornwallis, dated, Camp
before York, i8th October, 1781. see Letter ii. 193.
Inclosed [218] in Number XVI. Copy of Earl
Cornwallis's Letter to General Washington, dated York
in Virginia, 1 8th October, 1781. see Letter ii. 195.
Inclosed [220] in Number XVI. Copy of the
Articles of Capitulation, see ii. 199.
Number XVII. [227] Sir Henry Clinton, to Earl
Cornwallis, dated New- York, November 3Oth, 1781.
see Letter ii. 217.
Number XVIII [228] Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated New- York, 2d December, 1781.
see Letter ii. 219.
Number XIX [230] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, December 2d,
1781. see Letter ii. 240.
Number XX. (To face p. 236) State of the
Troops in Virginia, Under the Command of Lieu
tenant- General Earl Cornwallis. see ii. 197.
Number XXI. (To face p. 237) State of the
Army in Virginia, Under the Command of Lieutenant-
General Earl Cornwallis. October the i8th, 1781.
see ii. 198.
CORRESPONDENCE between
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. Commander in Chief,
and Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.
PART VI.
LETTERS FROM SIR HENRY CLINTON, K.B., TO EARL CORN
WALLIS.
DELIVERED AT NEW-YORK A MONTH AFTER EARL CORN-
WALLIS'S SURRENDER.
Number I. [237] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, August 2d, 1781.
(Received from the Secretary at New York, Nov. 19,
1781.) see Letter ii. 109.
Number II. [251] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, August 27th, 1781.
(Received from the Secretary at New- York, November
i9th, 1781.) see Letter ii. 141.
94 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Number III. [253] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis dated New- York, August 3Oth, 1781.
[Received from the Secretary at New- York, November
1 9th, 1781.] see Letter ii. 143.
Number IV. [257] Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New- York, October 14, 1781.
[Received from the Secretary at New- York, Nov. 29,
1781.] see Letter ii. 184.
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S
OBSERVATIONS
ON
EARL CORNWALLIS's •
ANSWER.
PRICE Two SHILLINGS AND SIX-PENCE.
OBSERVATIONS
O N
SOME PARTS
OF THE
ANSWER
O F
EARL CORNWALLIS
TO
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S
NARRATIVE.
BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
SIR HENRY CLINTON, K. B
TO WHICH IS ADDED
AN APPENDIX;
CONTAI NI NG
EXTRACTS OF LETTERS AND OTHER PAPERS,
TO WHICH REFERENCE IS NECESSARY.
LONDON:
Printed for J. DEBRETT, (Successor to Mr. ALMON,)
opposite BURLINGTON-HOUSE, PICCADILLY.
M.DCC.LXXXIII.
13
1« Notes marked thus are proved by our Correspondence.
OBSERVATIONS
ON
SOME PARTS OF EARL CORNWALLIS'S ANSWER
TO
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S NARRATIVE.
BY
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
SIR H.ENRY CLINTON, K.B.
WHEN I published a Narrative of my conduct
during the period of my command in North
America, which comprehends the campaign of 1781,
I was in hopes I had said every thing that was re
quisite to explain the motives of my own actions,
and to convince [ 2 ] every unprejudiced person, that
certain positions respecting them, advanced in Lord
Cornwallis's letter to me of the 2Oth of October, had
no foundation. But it gives me extreme concern to
observe, that his Lordship's seeming to avow nearly
the same sentiments in his Introduction to a late
publication, styled, an Answer to that Narrative, lays
ioo CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
me under the necessity of troubling the public again
upon a subject, which they are probably tired of;
and I sincerely wished to have done with. I hope,
therefore, it may not be judged improper to request
their attention to the following Observations on some
of the opinions and assertions therein stated. Which
(to be as concise as possible) I shall take according to
the order in which they occur ; — adding only, in an
Appendix, the copies of such extracts from my corre
spondence, and other papers, as appear necessary.
I find upon enquiry that the four letters were
omitted to be sent to the Secretary of State, which
Lord Cornwallis mentions to have been wanting
when the papers relating to this business were laid
before the House of Lords. But the reasons for
his Lordship's [ 3 ] march from Cross-creek to
Wilmington, and from thence into Virginia (stated
in the first of them) had been before given in his
letters of the 23d and 24th of April, to the Secretary
of State, General Phillips, and myself; and these
stand the first of those letters from his Lordship's
correspondence, read before the House of Lords ; the
other three letters had been inserted in a pamphlet
containing extracts from our correspondence, handed
about at the time of the enquiry ; and one of those
pamphlets had been presented, by my order, to Lord
Townshend, as a man of honour, and a friend to both
parties, previous (I believe) to hisla noticing2*-3*
this omission to the House ; and all the four missing
letters were soon after published in the Parliamentary
Register, along with those which had been read to
the Lords. So that Lord Cornwallis could not well
have sustained any injury by that omission. This,
however, cannot be said to have been the case with
la his underlined. to have published as they de-
2a by L. Cornwallis desire. scribe his Post of York as most
3a Indeed those of the i6th respectable very different from
& 22. August 1781. were of all what he describes it in his letter
others those I should wish most of the 2oth Octr 81
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 101
mine of the 3Oth of November, and 2d of December
to his Lordship, and of the 6th of December to the
American Minister ; which were with-held, whilst
Lord Cornwallis's letters of the 2Oth of October, and
2d [ 4 ] of December (to which they were answers)
were suffered to operate, for a long time, upon the
minds of the public, to my prejudice.1*-
My letters of the 3Oth of November and 2d of
December, were in Lord Cornwallis's possession,
when his friend, Lord Townshend, moved for those of
his Lordship, which he judged necessary to explain
his conduct. The public will judge, whether mine
were not, at least, equally so, to explain mine ; and
whether, on finding that the Secretary of State had
omitted to produce them to the Lords, Lord Corn-
wallis ought not to have desired Lord Townshend to
have moved for them. I declare, I would have done
so, had I been in his Lordship's place.
The four other letters, taken notice of by Lord
Cornwallis, were certainly not delivered to him
before November ; because the three first, having
been committed to the charge of General Leslie,
(who was in a manner embarked for the Chesapeak,
from the beginning of August to the arrival of the
French fleet) could not have been transmitted to his
Lordship sooner; and the last (the substance of
which, however, had been previously communicated
[ 5 ] in the presence of a council of war, for his
Lordship's information to Major Cockran, who joined
him on the 9th of October) being sent by an advice
boat, did not reach the Chesapeak before his
surrender. But whoever will take the trouble of
la tis time to speak out these Lord Rodney for not covering
letters of mine were intentionally such Operation according to order,
witheld from the Public. They & His Majtys Cabinet for adopting
throw blame on Lord Corns on & forcing the Plan of a subaltern
the Cabinet & on the Fleet. General, which Plan they after-
Lord Cornwallis for coming into wards condemned approving of
Virginia contrary to orders and that of the Comr in Chief alas
forcing Operan there. too late.
102 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
perusing those letters, will perceive that his Lord
ship's conduct (in the then state of matters) could not
have been influenced by an earlier receipt of them.
Every man of sensibility must lament that Lord
Cornwallis has so indiscreetly availed himself of the
liberty, he supposed was given him, by the late
change in American measures. For as my secret and
most private letter to General Phillips, dated April
30, contained nothing necessary for his Lordship's
justification; the publishing it was highly impolitic
at least, not to say more — for reasons too obvious to
need explanation. la*
No person can be more ready than I am to admit
the difficulties Lord Cornwallis had to struggle with ;
and I shall always acknowledge that I expected
success (notwithstanding) from his Lordship's abili
ties. I left his Lordship in the Carolinas,2f with
every power, civil and military, which I could give
him, to carry on [ 6 ] such operations as he should
judge most likely to complete their reduction. 3f*
Where I had hopes of success, I studiously sought to
approve without reserve. And, as long as I imagined
his Lordship to be in sufficient force, and in other
respects prepared and competent to give the experi
ment of supporting our friends in North Carolina,
a fair and solid trial^'bQ I certainly approved.
But after the unfortunate day of Cowpens, which
diminished his Lordship's acting army nearly one
fourth ;6a<7b and after he thought proper to destroy
la there were many more 5e a to trial underlined.
letters of His not published, for 6a and those of his light
what purpose the reader may troops which could least be spared
Judge. in the move he was about to make
2f & gave him all he wished besides I find by Col. Tarlton's
all he wanted of every sort. History a Circumstance which
3f with positive orders however realy astonishes me His Lordship
to consider Charles Town as the it seems had ordered part of the
principal object and to take no old works of Charles Town to be
step wch could put it in danger, thrown down, & that place was
4e his own words. consequently open & exposed &
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 103
great part of his waggons, proviant train, &c.le
(whereby he was reduced, I fear, to something too
like a Tartar move) ; had it then been possible for
him to have consulted me, he would have found that,
could I have even consented to his persisting in his
march into that province, that consent must have
totally rested upon the high opinion I entertained
of his Lordship's exertions, and not on any other
flattering prospect I had of success.
Major Ferguson's misfortune was one of those
untoward circumstances, which Lord Cornwallis says,
occured during the four months succeeding the
battle of Camden. His [ 7 ] Lordship, immediately
after the complete victory he there obtained, ordered
our friends in North Carolina, to arm and intercept
the beaten army of General Gates ; promising them
at the same time, that he would march directly to
the borders of that province in their support. About
this time Major Ferguson was detached to a distance
from his Lordship, with a body of militia (without
being supported by regular troops) under an idea
that he could make them fight ; notwithstanding his
Lordship had informed me, some little time before,
that it was contrary to the experience of the army,
as well as of Major Ferguson himself. 2b* The conse
quence was, that the Major and his whole corps were
unfortunately massacred. Lord Cornwallis was, im
mediately upon hearing of this event, obliged to quit
the borders of North Carolina, and leave our friends
in fact remained so from Janry to le to enable none to move
May. this circumstance alone rapidly & to do after what he
should have prevented his Lord- ought to have done before catch
ships march, had I known it I Morgan at his passage of Catawba.
should have forbid it as it was 2b read L. Cornwallis's letter
contrary to my orders. to S H C page 2 2 how could S H
I should have referred him also suppose L.C. would after that
to Lord Rawdons letters to me risk Ferguson unsupported the
written by his order, and before loss of Ferguson was the Benning-
alluded to pages. ton of Burgoyne French Town of
7b and he lost all his light S. W. Howe
troops.
104 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
there at the mercy of an inveterate enemy, whose
power became irresistible by this necessary retreat. le*
This fatal catastrophe, moreover, lost his Lordship
the whole militia of Ninety-six,21* amounting to four
thousand men, and even threw South Carolina into a
state of confusion and rebellion. 3a-
[ 8 ] How nearly the force I left with Lord Corn-
wallis in the Southern district, and what I afterwards
sent to him, might have been adequate or not to the
success expected from it, I shall not now examine. 4e'
It was all I could possibly spare. But for the satis
faction of the public, I shall give at the end of the
Appendix, a view of the force first left with his Lord-
ship,5b of what was sent to him afterwards, and of
what was finally under his Lordship's orders through
out the whole extent of his command ; — to contrast
with which, I shall add also another view of the force
left under my own immediate orders at New York, at
different periods ; giving at the same time as near a
calculation as I can make from the intelligence
received, of the number of regular troops which the
enemy had opposed to each of us. I beg leave like
wise to mention, that before I sailed from Charles-
le His Lordships own report all he wanted at first, on the
as to the Consequences. arrival of Leslie he told me I
2b so he says himself. had sent more than he expected
3a one positive order I left & full as much as I could spare,
with Lord CornwaUis not to 5b I left near 6000 with his
make any offensive move that Lordship he thought he should
might endanger Charles Town be able to send me 3000 of them
which was always to be consi- instead of which I sent him as
dered as a primary object, there is follows,
therefore no doubt but circum- 3200 Leslie
stanced as Charles Town then 35°° Arnold
was and continued months after 3000 Phillips
His march into N. Carolina and 1500 Anspachs
afterwards into Virga was con
trary to my orders, as his risk- 11200
ing Fergusons with the Militia besides 3 Regts from Ireland
unsupported was contrary to and recruits, in consequence the
every opinion he had given me. minister says my reinforcements
4e I gave him all he wished were ample, that he had often
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 105
town, I offered to Lord Cornwallis all he wished, all
he wanted, of every sort ; and that his Lordship
expressed himself to be perfectly satisfied with the
troops he had, and wished for no more, as will appear
from the letters annexed. What the exact strength
of the corps under his Lordship's immediate command
may have been at any given [ 9 ] period, I cannot
ascertain, as I had not regular returns of them ; but
his Lordship did not make any complaint to me of the
smallness of his force when he commenced his move
into North Carolina ; and I always thought it to be
full as large as I had rated it at.le-
I cannot judge of the assurances of co-operation
which Lord Cornwallis may have received from our
friends in North Carolina, but from his Lordship's
report; and his Lordship best knows, whether he
received any after the effects of Major Fergusons
misfortune were known?*' But his Lordship cannot
forget that our friends, who had risen by his order,
were left exposed to ruin by his retreat, and numbers
of them actually massacred. I am therefore at a
loss to guess what may have been his Lordship's
reasons for being surprized that they failed to join
him after the victory at Guildford ; as such3b effort
of loyalty could scarcely be expected from them
after their past sufferings, when they saw his Lord
ship's army so greatly reduced after the action,
and so scantily supplied with provisions ; which,
without doubt was very far short of that solid
support which they had been encouraged to expect
from his [ 10 ] Lordship's promises. And indeed
his Lordship might have supposed that these were
spoke of it much to my honour, full enough.
& that with what remained 2b I fear not after Campden
under my command at N. York L. Cornwallis had invited them
lie hoped I should be able to to arms, promised to support
defend it. them did so till called back by
le it appears by Tarltons Fergusons misfortunes, & these
letters &c that before the mis- poor people were left a sacrifice,
fom of Cowpens His Lordp had 3b an.
14
io6 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
their sentiments from what followed, as described
by himself. " Many of the inhabitants rode into
" camp, shook me by the hand, said they were glad
" to see us, and to hear we had beat Greene, and
" then rode home again ; " — no doubt with aching
hearts, from the melancholy secene his Lordship's
camp " encumbered with a long train of sick and
" wounded," exhibited to their view.
But as this attempt15 (such as it was) had failed,
surely Lord Cornwallis's next object should have
been, to secure South Carolina:2* and this appears
to have been his Lordship's own opinion when he
wrote his letter to General Leslie of the i2th of
December,* 1 780 :3e — " We will then give our
" friends in North-Carolina a fair trial. If they
" behave like men, it may be of the greatest ad-
" vantage to the affairs of Britain, If they are
"as - - - -4abf as our friends to the southward, we
"must leave them to their fate, and secure what
"we have got." Had I not consequently every
reason to expect his Lordship would have done
so ? To what purpose then did his Lordship [ 1 1 ]
march to Wilmington from Cross-creek,56 as he was
so much nearer Camden and South Carolina ? Or,
even when at Wilmington, (as he could not but be
apprehensive for the safety of South Carolina, from
General Greene's march into that province ; — and
even for Charlestown,f 6e " whose old works were in
"part levelled, to make way for new ones, which were
" not yet constructed ; and whose garrison was inade-
* For December read November.
t Vide Lord Rawdon's Letter to Lord Cornwallis, dated May 24,
1781. p 480.
lb L. C had my positive orders, Car. & it the primary object
not to risk Charles Town 4abf dastardly
2f as I had ordered and his 5e through a friends Country
Lordship had promised. 6e this is an extract of Col.
3e I left positive orders with Balfours letter to L. Rawdon &
L. Cornwallis never to risk Ca the same information Col. B of
Town but always to consider S. course gave L. Cornwallis
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 107
" quote to oppose any force of consequence ;"u which
material information it is presumed Colonel Balfour
could not have failed communicating to his Lordship
as well as to Lord Tlawdon,2f) why did not his Lord
ship retire to Charlestown by the route of Lockwood's
folly and the Waggamaw ? Which, it is the opinion
of many others as well as mine, was practicable. 3c*
For gallies might have secured him the passage of
that river, and we then held the post of George-town
upon its banks : it was, moreover, early in the month
of April, long before the droughts set in, and it may
therefore be presumed there was not much danger of
the mills wanting water, as his Lordship seems to
[12] have apprehended. Had his Lordship fortu
nately done so, South Carolina would have been
saved, and the fatal catastrophe which afterwards
happened to his army in the Chesapeak avoided.
Lord Cornwallis in answer to this says, " that he
" decided to march into Virginia, as the safest and
" most effectual means of emi^loying the small corps
"under his command. 4e<5a. For the force in South
la such had been the state of was he to go there, that he does
Charles Town from Jany to May not own the receipt of them,
8 1 engages Balfour to be silent
The fact is Thus, Major Barras also and marches into Virginia
told me he had been sent from against the unanimous opinion
Charles Town on the 6th April, of all the officers he had assembled
to endeavour to get to Lord to consult, at the risk of losing
Corns and inform his Lordship Carolinas intrusted to his care,
of this circumstance & that if 2f Lord Rawdons was not
he did not return to S. Carolina only an action most ably deter-
immediately that province & mined on but most spiritedly con-
Charles Town would be lost that ducted, but a victory one of the
in the hope he would he had most important of the War, had
occupied George Town & sent he not attacked Greene but stood
Gallies into the Waggamaw. AH longer in Campden he must
this convinces me that Col. Bal- have fell & for the reasons Balfour
four did not only send him this gives the Carolinas Georgia &
information by the many safe their with him.
opportunities he had but my 3e I never heard a man but
dispatches to his Lordship which L C say it was not
absolutely all but forbid his going 4e when he reported to me
into Virginia, but so determined 1 6 Sepr that the Enemy had 37
ic8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
" Carolina was in his opinion sufficient, when collected,
" to secure what was valuable to us in that province."
But his Lordship's letter to General Phillips, of the
24th of April, (written a day or two before he moved)
so far from representing this march as a safe one,
describes it as most perilous. And if there was a
possibility that his Lordship's return to South
Carolina (even by sea) might prevent any material
part of that province or Georgia from falling into the
enemy's hands, (as many of the posts there did, not
withstanding his Lordship's opinion of the sufficiency
of the force to secure them,) it may be presumed, that
his Lordship's march into Virginia was not the most
effectual means of employing the corps under his
command, as the event has but too well proved to
our cost. Lord Corn[ 13 ]wallis gives likewise
another reason for this move. He says, "he was
" influenced by having just received an account frcm
" Charlestown of the arrival of a frigate with dis-
" patches from me* The substance of which then
"transmitted to him was, that General Phillips had
"been detachedla*2a to the Chesapeak, and put
"under his orders. Which induced him to hope
" that solid operations might be adopted in that
"quarter." I shall therefore take the liberty of
saying a few words on this passage, which appears
to me very necessary to be explained.
The dispatches his Lordship alludes to, were my
letters to his Lordship of the 2d, 5th, and 8th, of
March, with a copy of my instructions to General
sail of the line & had mov'd he Troops under his command !
knew from me we had only 21 he la If that was the substance
perhaps according to this rule sent him those who sent it as
should have done as here men- the substance of S H Clinton's
tioned, march'd back into N. or S. dispatch to his Lordp sent any-
Carolina & saved all he could. thing but the substance of S H 0
5a His own Corps Lord informd L. CornwaUis that Genl
Bawdons Gen Phillips &c &c Phillips waited the Event of a
&c &c as the safest and most naval action to be despatched,
effectual means of employing the 2a had been detached underlined.
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER log
Phillips. Captain Amherst, of the Sixtieth regiment,
having charged himself with those oflb*2b Lord
Cornwallis, and other dispatches for Colonel Balfour,
sailed from New- York on the 2Oth of March, in a
merchant ship, called the Jupiter.3e> And as Colonel
Balfour acknowledged the receipt of them all, in his
letter to me of the yth of April, it is presumable
they were delivered to him on or before that day.
This letter was brought to [ 14 ] me by his Majesty's
ship Amphitrite ; which, having in her way called at
Cape Fear, brought me a letter likewise from Lord
Cornwallis, at Wilmington, dated the loth of April. 4e*
It is therefore to be lamented, that neither the dis
patches themselves, nor the substance of them, had
been transmitted to his Lordship by that ship.5f> The
Speedy packet too, which was sent from Charles-
town66 soon after the Amphitrite, with letters to me
of the 2Oth of April, called likewise in her way at
Cape Fear, and brought me letters from his Lordship
of the 22d, 23d, and 24th of April; but I am con
cerned to observe, that safe opportunity of conveying
my dispatches to his Lordship was also missed.
Although Lord Cornwallis, in his letter to the
American minister of the 23d April, and in his intro
duction, intimates that the substance of those
dispatches was sent to him on the 22d April; I
should, notwithstanding, suppose, that what was sent
lb for that I was in temper to resign
2b of run through. the command to him & that he
3e for I could never get a was blind to every other con-
frigate to carry dispatches what- sideration, But Balfour knew this
ever the consequence of them. & that the dispatches contained
4e proof that oppty was missed — almost a forbidanse & therefore
5f why neither the dispatches he was too good a courtier to let
nor the real substance of them them go to him, I do realy
were sent to E. Corns by Col. believe there were certain men in
Balfour, His Lordship & Col. B that Army that had rather an
must settle between them, I some- should be lost than that I
times suspect that E. Cornwallis should save or recover it.
was determined to put himself 6e by Col Balfour first to C.
within my reach, under the Idea Town
no CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
to his Lordship as such must have been improperly
stated. For by having recourse to the dispatches at
large, it will be seen, that so far from inducing Ms
Lordship to hope that solid operation might be adopted
in Virginia, [ 15 ] (as he intimates the substance of
them did) it is presumed, they would on the contrary
have convinced him, that I had not even an idea of the
sort (which, indeed, his Lordship might have already
judged from my letter of 6th November)16 and
therefore, instead of influencing his Lordship's move
into that province, they might have most probably
prevented it. But when the Public have read my
letters to Lord Cornwallis of the 2d, 5th, and 8th
of March, and my instructions to General Phillips,
they will be competent to judge in what manner
they were most likely to influence his Lordship, had
he received them, or even the substance of them,
before he commenced his march into Virginia, as
I think his Lordship might have perceived by the
instructions that Generals Phillips and Arnold, with
part of the Chesapeak corps, were to be drawn back
to New- York for a particular service, after a certain
time ; — and ly the letters, that a considerable French
armament was sailed from Rhode-island to the Chesa-
peak.2e* It is consequently presumable, that in the
jfirst instance his Lordship would not have marched
into Virginia, lest he should in\_ 16 ^t erf ere with my
plans; and that in the other he would have been
equally cautious of doing so, lest he should hazard
the destruction of his own corps, should the troops in
Chesapeak happen at the time to be invested at
Portsmouth, which from those letters would appear
very probable to be the case.3a'4b*
le which he had received long Amphi trite but it did not suit his
before, purpose to obey them or own the
2e was at that inst in possession receipt. He resolved on a march
of it into Virginia because He judged
3a As I said before I never in the humour I was at their not
had a doubt but Lord Cornwallis changing the Admiral that I should
received these dispatches by the if he came within my Reach re-
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER in
I will frankly own that I ever disapproved of an
attempt to conquer Virginia before the Carolinas were
absolutely restored. le- However, when I saw that
Lord Cornwallis had forced himself upon me in that
province, I left him at liberty to act there as he
judged best, as may appear by my letter to his
Lordship of the 29th of May,2e*3f which was the
first I had an opportunity of writing to him after
my knowledge of his arrival at Petersburg, or of
his intentions of coming there.4b*
Although Lord Cornwallis thought proper to decline
engaging in the plan of operations which I had pro
posed to him in case he had none of his own ; I am at
a loss to guess what may be his motives for saying,
" / did not seem inclined to take more share in the
" responsibility than barely to recommend it ; " 5a
arid indeed I cannot think his Lordship was really
serious [ 17 ] in suggesting an insinuation so
apparently groundless. For it is manifest that my
letter to General Phillips of the 3Oth of April
(published by Lord Cornwallis) conveys to him and
General Arnold the most explicit instructions for
carrying those operations into execution ;6e and it
can scarcely be doubted, that those instructions were
equally explicit to his Lordship, the moment the corn-
sign to him & which if he remd obvious I need not innumerate
at Charles Town or in Carolina I them,
could not do. 2e page 99.
4b the Fact is these letters so 3f page 99, & 102. & indeed
far from inviting Lord Cornwallis throughout.
into Virginia all but forbid his 4b by this letter I leave him
coming there, and informs him totally at liberty to follow any
that at that very instant tis prob- plan he might have of his own.
able the Enemys Fleet are in pos- 5a I had ordered Genl Phillips
session of Chesapeak, with this to follow this Plan, but under
inforn his Lordship would not of the positive orders I was to
course have judged it proper to follow that of Lord Cornwallis.
have engaged in operations which 6e his Lordshp should have
totally depended on a superior published that as well as that
Fleet ! ! ! which he did
le the reasons to me are so
U2 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
rnand of that army devolved upon him.lb<2f* Be
sides, though it may be admitted that I only barely
recommended the move, in my letters on the subject
to his Lordship (because it had been hitherto usual
for me to leave him to his own discretion) yet I am
persuaded a reference to my correspondence (as pub
lished by Lord Cornwallis and myself) will shew that
those recommendations were sufficiently explicit to
fix responsibility upon me, had his Lordship adopted
my plan, and afterwards f ailed. 3e*4a-
Lord Cornwallis is pleased to say, "that he
" informed me he should repair to Williamsburg,
" about the time when he should receive my answer,
" in order to be in readiness to execute my commands ;
" and that he should employ the intermediate space in
" de[ 1 8 Jstroying such of the enemy's stores and
" magazines as might be within his reach." — The
letter which is thus explained was dated the 26th of
May, at Byrd's, a little more than twenty miles from
Richmond, which is fifty from Williamsburg, and is
expressed in the following words : " I shall now pro-
" ceed to dislodge La Fayette from Richmond, and
" with my light troops to destroy any magazines or
u stores in the neighbourhood, which may have been
" collected either for his use or for General Greene's
" army. From thence I purpose to move to the Neck
" at Williamsburg r, which is represented as healthy,
" and keep myself unengaged from operations which
" might interfere with your plan for the campaign,
" until I have the satisfaction of hearing from you.
" I hope I shall then have an opportunity to receive
lb the fact is that standing in 3e by permitting it I became
the Place of G. Phillips they as Com in chief responsible,
ought to have been obeyed by 4a I could do no more than
his Lordship recommend it, as to responsibility
2f in short Phillips had been there is no doubt but I was re
ordered & L C did and of course sponsible for a Plan I had ordered
should have considered himself as G. P. to execute, & had recom-
bound to the orders he found in mended also to L. Cornwallis.
Virginia when he came there
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 113
" letter information than has hitherto been in my
" power to procure relative to a proper harbour and
"place of arms.le'2f' At present I am inclined to
" think well of York. The objections to Portsmouth
" are, that it cannot be made strong without an army
" to defend it, that it is remarkably unhealthy, and
" can give no protection to a ship of the line" From
[ 1 9 ] the foregoing letter I naturally concluded, that, as
soon as his Lordship had finished the service he was
gone on, (which I did not imagine would have taken
up above six or seven days at most) he would endea
vour to obtain information respecting a proper har
bour and place of arms-, and having found it, that
he was actually employed in establishing a post there.
For, not having received any letter from his Lordship
between the 26th of May and 3Oth of June, I was
totally ignorant of his having changed his design,
(as described in his letter of the first date) and
gone across the country towards Fredericksburg, by
Hanover Court-house ; an operation which took his
Lordship a complete month before he reached
Williamsburg. But had his Lordship fortunately ex
plained to me his instructions3b'4b in that letter in
the same manner he has now explained his letter, I
should have seen that his Lordship had no idea of
establishing a post on the Williamsburg Neck : and,
when I found he had no plan of his own, would of
course have sent early and explicit orders for that
purpose, either to his Lordship, or in his absence to
General Leslie, whereby much time might have been
saved, [ 20 ] and the fatal catastrophe that followed
— at least retarded, by his Lordship being in a better
le we all agreed in this Neces- Gloucester had not these den
sity of a place of arms, tis plain ciencies, and the Idea of a harbour
by this his Lordp did. for ships of the line if it did not
2f In his first letter after his originate with L Cornwallis at
arrival he seems to have had an Idea least met his approbation
of a harbour & place of arms & 3b Intentions
thinks well of York & Gloucester 4b instructions run through.
this also implies that York &
15
H4 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
state of defence than that in which the enemy found
him.lf* For, though from his Lordship's letter to
me of the 22d of August,* I had every reason to
suppose that a proper survey of the ground had been
taken, and a judicious plan fixed on for fortifying it;
I very much fear that nothing material was done
until after the arrival of the French fleet on the 2gth
of August, as the engineer has since given me to
understand (when I asked him for his survey) that
he did not take one.2dt There appears, therefore,3f
to have been a misapprehension somewhere respecting
this matter, as well as the number of intrenching
tools ; which, though computed by his Lordshipf to
[ 2 1 ] be only about four hundred when he began to
work on the York side, I find by his engineer's reports,
in my possession, to have been 99 2 J on the 23d of
August, the day on which (it is presumed from the
letter before quoted) he began to break ground.4*'
* Extract. — Letter from Lord Cornwallis to Sir H. Clinton, dated
York-Town, August 22, 1781. see Letter ii. 137.
" The engineer has finished his survey and examination of this
"place, and has proposed his plan for fortifying it ; which, appearing
" judicious, I have approved of, and directed to be executed."
t Extract. — Letter from Lord Cornwallis to Sir H. Clinton dated
York-Town, October 20, 1781. see Letter ii. 205.
" And our stock of intrenching tools, which did not much exceed
" four hundred when we began to work m the latter end of August,
" was now much diminished."
+ Vide the return in the Appendix, ii. 250.
If the fact is that L. C. did 3f What I can spare 1000 or
not defend the ground he de- 1200 men from everything but
scribed in his letter of the 2Oth labour
Octr but stood siege in ground 4a Lord Cornwallis asserts in
which that commanded in a near an official letter that his Engi-
advance (Washingtons words that neer had made an actual survey
it infiladed) & which works were of ground He has chosen in
not thought of till the french preference to cover a naval
arrived, chose in a hurry without Station for large ships in the
a plan & his Lordship was reduced York River, that he has offered
to Extremty in there in 7 days his Plan &c &c&cpage 20. when
open trenches I call on His Engineer for this
2d The Engineerinformed me he Plan he tells me he never sur-
had never examined the ground veyed it & when called upon
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 115
Lord Cornwallis is also pleased to say, " Whoever
" reads the correspondence will see, that since Sir H.
" Clinton had declared positively in his first,lf and
" in several subsequent dispatches against the plan
" for reducing Virginia, no explicit alternative was
" left to me, between complying with the requisi
tion (contained in his letters of the uth2f and
" 1 5th of June) of such troops as I could spare from a
" healthy defensive station, or engaging in operations
" in the Upper Chesapeak."3f- But this conclusion
does not, I presume necessarily follow ; for though it
is admitted that the whole of my correspondence with
the American Minister and Lord Cornwallis uniformly
declare my sentiments, of the impracticability of re
ducing Virginia by an operation solely there, without
the good-will and aid of the inhabitants, — and of the
bad policy [ 22 ] of the measure from the unhealthi-
ness of the climate; and I was equally uniform in
expressing to his Lordship my wishes, that he would
adopt my ideas of the move to the Delaware Neck,
&c. against which there were none of those objec
tions. Yet, when I found that his Lordship was
averse to engage in the operations concerted with
suddenly to fortify it on the what is not true, read my letter
arrival of the French Fleet He of the 2Qth may page 99. &
knew nothing of it, what does there I appeal whether I do not
Lord Cornwallis say to this — leave his lordship at full liberty
again when his Lordship says he to carry on such operations in
has not above 400 intrenching Virga as he shall judge proper
tools on the 22d of August this & again p. 102 I had always
same Engineer makes a formal declared & I still think without
return of 992. at that very period a covering fleet it was not only
what says Lord Cornwallis to impracticable but must be fatal,
this also — and I appeal to his lordship
If the first letter his Lord- what would have been his fate
ship reed was that of the 29- if he had ever reduced Virginia
may page 99. and the Enemy had afterwards
2f which the Minister had arrived in the force & with the
however not only approved of intentions they did. that his
himself but had said he was whole covering fleet &c would
convinced L Cornwallis would have been swallow up in a few
also. hours had it not been secured by
3f Lord Cornwallis asserts here a place of arms
n6 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
General Phillips, and that he concurred with that
officer respecting the propriety of changing the post
of Portsmouth for one more healthy and defensible,
I gave my consent to the change proposed, and
referred his Lordship to my correspondence with
General Phillips for my opinions thereon. His
Lordship might have therefore judged that I ex
pected he would immediately carry into execution
this part of my plan, especially as his Lordship
might have recollected that he told me in the letter
before quoted, " That he hoped, when he got to the
" Williamsburg Neck, he should have an opportu-
" nity to receive better information than had hitherto
" been in his power to procure, relative to a proper
" harbour and place of arms."lbt Wherefore, as his
Lordship was left at liberty by my letters of the nth
and [ 23 ] 1 5th of June, to detain all the troops, if he
had not finished the operations he was engaged in :
and as his Lordship had not completed his measures
relative to a proper harbour and place of arms, which
appears from his letter to have been one of the
operations he proposed engaging in ; it may be fairly
concluded that an explicit alternative wras left him.
For the letter of the nth of June explicitly recom
mends to his Lordship the taking a healthy defen
sive station wherever he chose on the Williamsburg
Neck ; and only calls for what troops he could spare
from its ample defence and other purposes mentioned,
after it was taken. And as his Lordship had not
yet taken that station, the troops were without
doubt to be detained ; — because in that case only my
letter requested them to be sent ; but though his
Lordship might possibly have understood the letter
differently at the time, we may at least suppose that,
as it referred him to other letters of the 2Qth of May
and 8th of June, for a further explanation of my
wishes, and these letters had not then been received
lb and from its being the danger of operation there witht
most inimical Province and the a fleet to cover it
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 117
by his Lordship, he had very sufficient reason to
suspend at least his intention of crossing James River,
until [24] he either received them or heard again
from New- York. Lord Cornwallis endeavours to
invalidate this reasoning by saying, " that the choice
" of a healthy station was controlled by other material
" considerations, particularly the imminent danger of
" New-York, and the important effects expected from
" the expedition against Philadelphia" His Lordship
will, however, forgive me if I cannot discover from
whence those considerations arose ; as my letters of
the nth and I5th of June (which were the only
letters he had* then received) do not describe New-
York to be in any sort of danger, and his Lordship
by his answer to those letters seemed of opinion,
that the project against Philadelphia was then become
inexpedient. I am therefore sorry to be under the
necessity of repeating, that it is my opinion, his Lord
ship totally misconceived all my orders and intentions
respecting this business, when he judged they war
ranted his passing James Biver and retiring to Ports
mouth; — which 1 could not possibly suspect his Lordship
would make choice of as a healthy defensible station,
[25] after he had just told me in his letter of the 2 6 th of
May, " that it was remarkably unhealthy, and (thour/h
"fortified) required an army to defend it." But our
correspondence is now before the public, and they will
judge whether my orders authorized his Lordship to
do so, and whether consequently six weeks at least
were not lost in securing a place of arms, which we
both seemed to concur in opinion was necessary. la<
With respect to his Lordship's saying, " It will be seen
" by the correspondence that the Commander-in-chief s
" opinion of the indispensible necessity of a harbour
" for line of battle ships only appears in his letter of
" the nth of July, after he had been acquainted that
* Vide his Lordship's letter of the 3oth of June. ii. 31.
la without a covering Fleet, should arrive all agreed opera-
or place of arms till that Fleet tion in Chesapeak was dangerous.
n8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
" the troops intended for the expedition against
" Philadelphia would be soon ready to sail," (thereby
intimating that it was a new idea just then started) I
presume it may be easily made appear from the same
correspondence, that so far from being a new idea,
the taking a station for large ships was one of the
earliest and principal objects recommended to General
Phillips's consideration and enquiry.* And I think it
may be inferred, [ 26 ] from his Lordship's objecting
to Portsmouth, in the letter of the 26th of May,
" because it could not give protection to a ship of the
" line" that he regarded it as such, and consequently
went in search of a naval station as standing in that
general officer's place, it being apparently from that
letter one of the principal reasons which induced his
Lordship to go to the Williamsburg Neck.
Lord Cornwallis says, " Hampton-road was recom-
" mended by that order ; but as it was upon
" examination found totally unfit for the purpose
" desired, every person can judge whether the order
" did not then in its spirit become positive to occupy
" York and Gloucester." To enable every person
therefore to judge whether it did or not, I shall beg
leave to transcribe the words of the order. " I
" request that your Lordship will without loss of
" time examine Old Point Comfort , and fortify it.
" But if it should be your Lordship's opinion that
" Old Point Comfort cannot be held without having
"possession of York, for in this case Gloucester may
" perhaps be not so material) and that the whole
" cannot be done with less than seven thousand
" men, you are at full liberty to detain all the
" [ 27 ] troops now in Chesapeak, which I believe
" amount to somewhat more than that number.
" Which very liberal concession will, I am per-
" suaded, convince your Lordship of the high
" estimation in which 1 hold a naval station in
" Chesapeak." If nothing else had been said to
* Vide instructions of the loth of March. p 347.
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER ng
Lord Cornwallis or General Phillips, upon the subject
of a naval station, but what this order contains;
there could not in my humble opinion be a doubt,
that his Lordship was not at liberty to take any
other than Old Point Comfort, — except he should
be of opinion that York was necessary to cover it, in
which case he might take York also^3- and as the
two posts might probably require more troops than
were intended to be left in Chesapeak, his Lordship
was at liberty to detain the whole for fortifying and
garrisoning them. I dare say Lord Cornwallis saw
the order in this point of view ; — but judging that
Old Point Comfort was totally unfit for the purpose
desired, he had recourse to the instructions and
letters to General Phillips in his possession, to see
whether they would authorise him to reject it, and
look out for another.2*- And discovering that my
instructions to that General officer gave him leave,
" in [ 28 ] case the Admiral disapproving Portsmouth
" should require a fortified station for large ships
" in Chesapeak, and should propose York town or
" Old Point Comfort, to take possession thereof, if
" possession of either could be acquired and main-
" tained without great risk or loss ; " his Lordship
conceived he should act according to the spirit
of my orders, by taking York and Gloucester. I
am however humbly of opinion, that admitting the
propriety of his Lordship's consulting other papers
besides the order immediately before him, the order
(even as explained by the instructions) did not become
positive to occupy York and Gloucester. For it does
not appear that the instructions authorised either
la York being above old P. not have removed the station to
Comfort & on the same neck. York river without first receiving
2a If Lord Cornwallis considers the Admirals & my approbation,
the orders to Genl Phillips as I never blamed him for doing so
affecting him in one instance they judging he was convinced He could
do so equally in all, tho' in strict- there give effectual Protection to
ness I think his Lordship disap- ships of the line the Responsi-
proving of James River should bility remaining however in him.
120 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
General Phillips or his Lordship to occupy York or
Old Point Comfort, unless they should have been
proposed by the Admiral1* for a naval station. But
the post of York and Gloucester never having been
proposed by the Admiral either to his Lordship or
me for a naval station, as Old Point Comfort was,
but only barely mentioned to his Lordship by the
Admiral, as likely to command one of the principal
rivers if it could he secured ; and it at last appear
ing by the letter of 2Oth October, to have been
his [ 29 ] Lordship's opinion that it was incapable of
being so ; it may be presumed that his Lordship did
not act conformable to either the spirit or letter of
the order in taking it, — and consequently that
his doing so was entirely of his own motion and
choice. But, being probably aware of this con
clusion, his Lordship says, " as the harbour was the
" indispensible object, he took York, being the only
" one in Chesapeak that he knew of." In which
(no doubt) his Lordship would have been perfectly
justifiable if the objections to it were not such as he
thought forcible." 2b< But it appears from his Lord
ship's letter of the 2Oth of October, that the objections
to that post were such as he thought forcible. It may
therefore be a matter of some surprise, that, as his
Lordship thought proper to avail .himself of the
latitude of choice he supposed given him by the in
structions to General Phillips,3b it did not occur to him
that the same instructions directed him to " decline
li taking either York or Old Point Comfort ', if his
" objections were such as he thought forcible" And
as Lord Cornwallis never stated his objections to the
post of York either to the Admiral or me, as those
la Admiral underlined. ter as he did favorably I should
2b so very difft from that of the under the assurances I had re-
22. Augt ceived of a covering fleet, con-
3b at least till he had repetd vinced of the necessity of a place
them to me & had reed my orders of arms to cover large ships have
but I confess if he had spoke as ordered him to take the best he
unfavorably of York and Glouces- could find. —
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 121
instructions directed him to do, if he had any ; it
may be [ 30 ] asserted that his Lordship alone is
answerable for whatever impropriety there may have
been in taking the post of York and Gloucester ; as
it is I presume, clear from the foregoing reasoning,
that, having under the sanction of the instructions
to General Phillips, declined taking possession of
Old Point Comfort (which his Lordship was positively
directed to occupy by the order of the iith of
July,)lb his Lordship had the same authority for
declining to take York or any other naval station,
" could they not be acquired and maintained without
" great risk or loss, and so well and so soon fortified
" as to be rendered hors d' insulte before the enemy
" could move a force, &c. against them ; "* which his
Lordship's letter of the 2Oth of October intimates to
be his opinion the post of York could not be from
the disadvantageous nature of the ground?*'
Having represented to the Minister for the
American department the danger of operations
in Chesapeak3f without a covering fleet ; and
having been in consequence promised that I
should have it; and being told by Admi[ 31 ]ral
Hood upon his arrival that he had brought me a
sufficient one ;4b I gave Lord Cornwallis of course all
the hopes I could, and " certainly promised to succour
" him in person, by moving into Chesapeak with four
" thousand troops," the instant the Admiral should
inform me the passage to him was open, or would
undertake to convoy me. But as his Lordship did
not receive these hopes (such as they are) before the
* Vide the instructions p 347 and substance of conversations with
General Phillips p 430 ; as quoted by Lord Cornwallis in his letter
dated July 26, 1781. ii. 104.
lb the only order I ever gave 3f which I had been ordered
to take a naval station to cover to engage in in support of L.
large ships. Cornwallis.
2a very different from the dis- 4b & S G. Rodney having pro-
cription he gives of this ground mised to follow de Grasse & cover
in his letter 22<i Augt. our operations.
16
122 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
1 6th of September ; (for I must still persist in declar
ing that I never gave his Lordship assurances of the
exertions of the navy before my letter to him of the
24th of September, which he received on the 2Qth
— as asserted in his Lordship's letter of the 2Oth of
October)la'2bt Surely his Lordship's hopes of succour
must have been but small between the 2Qth of August
and that period, when he knew there was an enemy's
fleet of thirty -six sail of the line Hocking him up, and
a formidable army collecting to invest him, " in an
" intrenched camp, subject in most places to enfilade,
" and the ground in general disadvantageous ; "3f —
without knowing of more than seven sail of the line
on our side, and consequently having in the inter
mediate space no very great prospect of relief.
[ 32 ] His Lordship says, " that, as I did not give
" him the smallest particle of discretionary power
" different from holding the posts he occupied ; it
" would not have been justifiable in him, either to
" abandon by the evacuation of York a considerably
" quantity of artillery, the ships of war, transports,
" provisions, stores, and hospitals ;4b or, by venturing
" an action without the most manifest advantage, to
"run the risk of precipitating the loss of them." To
this, I shall only observe, that it will appear from
the correspondence, that his Lordship's discretionary
powers were unlimited from the first moment of his
taking charge of a separate command5a'6b<7f ; and it
will I believe be admitted, that his Lordship acted in
most cases as if he considered them as such. And
though I may not condemn8a'9b'lof his Lordship for
la but has since acknowledged making any move that might
was not the case. endanger Charles Town.
2b but since acknowledged to 6b except as to the risking C.
be otherwise Town.
3f how differently do his Lord- 7f except with respect to ex-
ships letters of the 22<1 August, posing S. Carolina,
and 2oth of Octr describe the 8a whether I condemn him or
ground of York. no He no doubt now condemns
4b &c &c &c. himself.
5a except with respect to his 9b S H Clinton saw the ne-
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 123
not attacking the Marquis de la Fayette, before his
junction with Monsieur St. Simon (when he had, as I
understand, only two thousand regular continental
troops) ; or for not attempting to prevent that junc
tion ; or for not attacking them when joined ; and
endeavouring to escape with part of his army to
the southward, between the 2Qth of August and the
[ 33 ] 1 6th of September ; — as such measures
must have altogether depended on his Lordship's own
feelings, of which no man can speak but himself.
Yet it was natural to suppose, that the General
officer, who had but a few months before (at the risk
of engaging his Commander in Chief in operations,
for which he could not be preparedla; and perhaps
at the risk of losing a valuable province under his
immediate protection)2a decided upon a move with
part of his army into Virginia, "for urgent reasons,"
" being influenced thereto (he says) by the substance of
a dispatch?3-^ (he heard was coming to him,) with-
cessity of a Place of arms ; had not approving that took Y.
every reason till the i6th octr to
judge favorably of that L. Corn-
wallis had taken in preference to
the one S H C had ordered ; S H
had every reason to expect a
covering fleet how then could he
with propriety direct L. Corn3 to
quit that place of arms particu
larly under the circumstances he
mast have done so as described
above ; but tho L C had not
positive orders, under " pressing
contingences, or discretionary
powers he might have retired.
It will be judged he ran risks
from the great superiority of the
Enemy's Fleet.
10f In the first place I defy his
Lordship to produce a single
prooff that I ever ordered him to
take York and Gloucester much
less to hold them, but when I
ordered him to fortify old point
Comfort in James river & he
& Gloucester in preference I
did not disapprove but uni
formly said I hoped he had
chose a healthy & respectable
post & explained my meaning of
a respectable post such a one as
could resist a serious attack of
fleet and Army read my Insns
June page 8 when I left L Corn-
wallis in Carolina I in a standing
order forbid all offensive operations
except what might be undertaken
without risk to C. Town
la and had always disapproved.
2a and its Capitol committed
to his care
3a from the Comr in chief.
4b C. Balfour received it the
yth of april neglected many safe
opportunities of sending it to L.
Cornwallis & tho he had read it
did not send the substance of it
to L C. because perhaps he knew
L. C. was bent on going to Vir-
124 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
out waiting to receive it, though it might have been
expected in a few hours : — I say, it was natural to
suppose, that the General officer who had done this,
might have judged it equally expedient to decide
upon retiring back again without waiting to receive
special discretionary powers from his Commander in
Chief, if he judged there was a great probability of
his losing every thing should he remain. Which, if
it was so, I am bold to say, was a reason far more
urgent for his endeavouring to save part of his army
by any means in his power, than any his Lordship
[ 34 ] could suppose he had for quitting the Caro-
linas at the time he marched into Virginia.
There remains little more necessary in reply to
Lord Cornwallis's introduction, but to observe, that
the army and its followers in Virginia had been so in
creased in consequence of his Lordship's move into that
province ; that it would have been impracticable to
withdraw them by water (as his Lordship is pleased to
suggest ) for want of transports, even if the American
minister had not directedlab me2b to support his Lord
ship there, and a pressing contingency had required it.
And I must take the liberty to say, that the sending
his Lordship's corps back to South Carolina by land,
would have been a most absurd idea for me to
adopt after the opinions I had given of the risks it
run in its former march by that route. 3a*
ginia, & that those dispatches out ! ! ! Ross wanted to be Sec-
must prevent him; LC. knew S retary more than his Lordship to
H C was resolved to quit the com- be C. in Chief
mand if Arbuthnot was not re- lab directed underlined.
moved — his Lordship knew from 2b and forbid my drawing a
L. Sandwich by post that Arbuth- man from thence,
not would not be removed immly & 3a but had I been at liberty
perhaps his Lordship had hopes I should have ordered his Lordship
S. H. C. would resign to him on hither to New York leaving only
his arrival in Virginia, who witht a small Station to cover Frigates
leave which S H C could not so in Chesapeak or if it should have
well do if his Lordship remained been expedient directed him to
as S H C had directed him in have proceeded in the executionr
S. Carolina — now the secret is of my Plan.
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 125
I shall now beg leave to conclude with an opinion,
which I presume is deducible from the foregoing (I
trust candid) review of circumstances. Which is,
that Lord Cornwallis's conduct and opinions, if they
were not the immediate causes, may be adjudged to
have at least contributed1'"1 to bring on the fatal
catas[ 35 Jtrophe which terminated the unfortunate
campaign of I78i.2a>
HARLEY-STREET,
April 3, i783-3a.4b.
la principally
2a and lost that Continent.
3a I should realy think I in
sulted the understanding of any
Man (particularly that of a Mili
tary Man) if I should ask him
whether He thinks S H Clinton
can be Responsable for operations
forced upon him by a subordinate
General which he does his utmost
to render the secure, and when in
danger to succour by every means
in his Power
4b pages 8 & 9. & 7 Lord
Cornwallis for coming into Vir
ginia contrary to the orders of
his Comr in Chief, the Cabinet
for rejecting the Plan of the
Comr in Chief (which they had
approved till May & did again
approve in July too late !) and
ordering him to adopt that of
H. CLINTON.
a Sr Genl serving under his
orders. S G. Rodney for pro
mising to obey the orders he had
received to follow De Grasse &
cover our absurd operations in
Chesk & for not doing it. &
S S H f or so positively asserting
he had brought a covering fleet.
Blame who they will S H Clinton
S'en lave les mains.
S H C thought his Narrative
would have induced L. Cornwallis
to have demanded an Enquiry —
he could have had no doubt but
that his observations would at
least, he was mistaken. — does not
S H in the language of a Gentle
man accuse L C of having re
peatedly disobeyed his orders,
misrepresented and of asserting
in an official letter what was not
true !
APPENDIX.
PART I.
CONTAINING extracts from the Correspondence with
Earl Cornwallis, la respecting the Force left with his
Lordship, and the Instructions given him upon his
taking the Command of the Southern District.
la To prove that S H C left with L. Cornwallis all he wished all
he wanted
126 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Extract [i] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn-
wallis, Charles Town, May 1 7, 1 780. see Extract p 209.
Copy [2] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Manigolds, May 18, 1780.
see Letter p 210.
Extract [4] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Manigolds, May 19, 1780.
see Extract p 211.
Extract [5] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, Charles-town, May 20, 1780. see Extract p 211.
Extract [5] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, Charles-town, May 20, 1 780. see Extract p 212.
Extract [6] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Lenews, East Side of Santee,
May 21,1 780. see Extract p 212.
Extract [6] — Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, Charles-Town, June i, 1780. see Extract p 213.
Extract [8] — From Instructions to Lieutenant-
General Earl Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters,
Charles-town, June i, 1780. see Letter p 215.
Extract [9] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, Romulus, June 8, 1 780. see Extract p 220.
PART II.
CONTAINING Copies and Extracts from Letters,
relative to the entire Submission of South Carolina,
and the progressive Operations proposed in Conse
quence, for the Reduction of North Carolina.
Extract [n] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Charles-town, June 30, 1 780. see Letter p 221.
From the same. [12] see Letter p 221.
Extract [13] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Charles-town, July, 14, 1 780. see Letter p 231.
Extract [14] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Charles-town, Aug. 6, 1780. see Letter p 235.
PART III.
CONTAINING Extracts from the Correspondence
with Earl Cornwallis, respecting the Events which
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 127
occurred between the Battle of Camden and Major
Ferguson's Defeat.
Extract [19] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Camden, August 23, 1780. see Letter p 257.
Extract [20] — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord
George Germain, dated Camden, August 20, 1780.
see Letter p 241.
Extract [21] — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord
George Germain, dated Camden, August 21, 1780.
see Letter p 249.
Extract [21] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Camden, August 29, 1780. see Letter p 261.
Extract [22] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl
Cornwallis, dated New- York, September 20, 1780.
see Extract p 269.
Inclosures. [23] Copy. — Sir Henry Clinton to Lord
George Germain, dated Charles-Town, June 3, 1780.
see Letter p 218.
Extract [24] — From Lord G. Germain to Sir H.
Clinton, Whitehall, July 5, 1780. see Letter p 229.
Instructions [25] to the Hon. Major-general
Leslie, dated Head-Quarters, New-York, October 10,
1780. see Extract p 2 "jo.
Extract [26] — Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, New- York, November 6, 1 780. see Extract p 287.
Second Instructions [27] to the Hon. Major-
general Leslie, dated New-York, November 2, 1 780.
see Letter ^285.
Extract [29] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Waxhaw, September 22,
1 780. see Extract p 269.
Extract [30] — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord
George Germain, dated Camp at Waxhaw, Sep
tember 19, 1780. see Letter p 264.
PART IV.
CONTAINING Extracts from the Correspondence with
Earl Cornwallis, &c. from Major Ferguson's Misfortune
to his Lordship's second Move into North Carolina.
128 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Extract [31] — From Major-general Leslie to Sir
Henry Clinton, dated Portsmouth, Nov. 7, 1780,
eight at Night, see Extract p 289.
Copy [32] — From Lord Rawdon to Major-general
Leslie, dated Camp, near the Indian Lands, West
of Cattawba river, South Carolina, Oct. 24, 1780.
see Letter p 271.
Copy [38] — From Sir Henry Clinton, to Major-
general Leslie, dated New York, November 12, 1780.
see Letter p 294.
Extract [38] — From Major-general Leslie to Sir
Henry Clinton, on board the Romulus, dated Hamp
ton Road, November 19, 1780. see Letter p 297.
Copy [39] — From Lord Rawdon to Sir Henry
Clinton, camp between Broad River and the
Catawba, October 29, 1780. see Letter p 277.
Extract [43] — From Lord Rawdon to feir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp between Broad River, and
the Catawba, South Carolina, October 31, 1780.
see Letter p 284.
Extract [45] — From Earl Cornwallis to Major-
general Leslie, dated Camp at Winnesborough,
between Broad River and Wateree, November 12,
1780. see Letter p 295.
Extract [45] — From Lieutenant-colonel Balfour,
without date, to Major-general Leslie, see Letter p 301.
Copy [46] — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, December 13,
1780. see Letter p 310.
Copy [49] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Wynnesborough, December
3, 1780. see Letter p 302.
Extract [52] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Wynnesborough, Dec. 22, i j^o. see Lett erp^i 2.
PART V.
CONTAINING Extracts from the Correspondence ;
between his Lordship's second Move into North
Carolina, and his Arrival at Wilmington.
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 129
Extract [54] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, Wynnesborough, Jan. 6, 1781. see Letter
Extract [56] — From Major-general Leslie to Sir
Henry Clinton, Camden, Jan. 8, 1 78 1 . see Letter p 317.
Copy [56] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, dated New- York, March 2, 5, and 8, 1781.
(Sent by Captain Amherst, in the Jupiter Merchant
Ship.) see Letter p 341.
Extract [61] — From Brigadier-general Arnold to
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, January
23, 1781. see Extract p 322.
Extract [63] — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
General Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, February
5,1781. see Extract p 324.
Extract [64]— From Sir H. Clinton, K.B. to
Lieutenant-colonel Balfour, sent by Captain Amherst,
in the Jupiter merchant ship, dated New York, March
9, 1781. see Letter p 346.
Extract [64] — From Brigadier-general Arnold to
Sir H. Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, February 1 3,
1781. see Extract ^324.
Extract [65] — From Brigadier-general Arnold to
Sir H. Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, February 25,
1781. see Extract p 328.
Extract [67] — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Brigadier-general Arnold, dated New York, February
1 8, 1781. see Extract p 326.
Extract [67] — From Brigadier-general Arnold to
Sir H. Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, February 2 7,
1781. see Extract p 3 29 .
Copy [68] — Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Brigadier-
general Arnold, dated New York, March i, 1781.
see Letter ^330.
Extract [69] — From instructions to Major-general
Phillips, New York, March 10, 1 781. see Letter p 347.
Extract [71] — From Brigadier-general Arnold to
Sir Henry Clinton, dated Portsmouth, March 8, 1781.
see Extract p 339.
17
I3o CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Extract [72] — From Admiral Arbuthnot to General
Arnold, Chesapeak, March 1 9, 1 78 1 . see Extract p 372.
Extract [73] — From Major-general Phillips to Sir
Henry Clinton, dated Chesapeak, on board the Royal
Oak, in Lynhaven Bay, March 26, 1781. see Extract
P375-
Extract [73] — From Sir Henry Clinton to Major-
general Phillips, dated New York, March 24, 1781.
see Letter p 373.
Extract [75] — Major general Phillips to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, April 3, 1781. see
Extract p 377.
Copy [79] — Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Major-
general Phillips, dated New- York, April 5, 1781.
see Letter p 392.
Extract [80] — Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Major-
general Phillips, dated New- York, April 13, 1781.
see Extract p 405 .
Extract [81] — Major-general Phillips to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Portsmouth, in Virginia, April 15,
1781. see Extract p 40 7.
Extract [81] — Major-general Phillips to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Hampton Road, on board the Maria,
April 19, 1781. see Extract ^412.
Extract [82] — Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to Sir
Henry Clinton, received by the Amphitrite man of
war, Charles-Town, April 7, 1781. see Letter p ^2.
PART VI.
CONTAINING Extracts from the Correspondence ;
between Lord Cornwallis's arrival at Wilmington, and
his entering Virginia.
Extract [84] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, received by his Majesty's ship Amphitrite,
Camp, near Wilmington, April 10, 1781. see Letter
P 395-
Copy [85] — Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated New-York, April 30, 1781. see Letter p 44 1 .
CLINTON'S OBSERVATIONS ON ANSWER 131
Copy [90] — From Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to
Sir Henry Clinton, received by the Speedy packet,
which called at Cape Fear, dated Charles-Town,
April 20, 1781. see Letter p 418.
Extract [91] of a letter from Lord Eawdon to Lord
Cornwallis, May 24, 1781. see Letter p 480.
Copy [92] — Earl Cornwallis to Lord George Ger
main, Wilmington, April 23, 1781. see Letter p 4.20.
Copy [94] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton,Wilmington, April 24, 1781. see Letter p 426.
Copy [95] — From Earl Cornwallis to Major-general
Phillips, dated April 24, 1781. see Letter p 427.
Copy [97] — From Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Charles-town, May 6,
1781. see Letter p 471.
PART VII.
CONTAINING Extracts from the Correspondence from
his Lordship's entering Virginia, &c.
Extract [99] — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Lord Cornwallis, dated New York, May 29, 1781.
see Letter p 493.
Extract [105] — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Bird's Plantation, North of
James-river, May 26, 1781. see Letter p 487.
Extract [i 08]— Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Lord
Cornwallis, New-York, June 1 1 , ijSi.see Letter ii. 1 8.
Copy [in] — Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Lord
Cornwallis, New- York, June 15, ijSi.see Letter ii. 24.
Extract [112] — Lord Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Williamsburg, June 30, 1781.
see Letter ii. 31.
Return [114] of intrenching Tools in the possession
of the Engineers at York Town, in Virginia, on the
23d of August, 1781. see ii. 250.
[At End] Table of British and American Armies
opposed to each other at different periods in 1 780 &
1781. see ii. 226.
CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN
HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL
SIR HENRY CLINTON, K. B,
AND
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
EARL CORNWALLIS
lb No, 29 2b Colonel Mordaunt
CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN
HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL
SIR HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
AND
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
EARL CORNWALLIS.
[Clinton [3] to Cornwallis] Head-Quarters, New
York, July 8, 1781. see Letter ii. 4Q.
[Clinton [6] to Cornwallis] Head-Quarters, New
York, July 10, 1781. see Letter ii. 62.
Extract [9] of a Letter from Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis to his Excellency General Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. &c. &c. &c. dated Cobham, July 8th,
1781. see Letter ii. 56.
[Clinton [10] to Cornwallis] Head-Quarters, New
York, July 15, 1781. see Letter ii. 73.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis [15] to his Ex
cellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c. &c.
Portsmouth,Virginia, July 2 7th, 1 78 1 . see Letter ii. 1 04.
Extract [19] of the Instructions of his Excellency
Sir Henry Clinton, to Major General Phillips, dated at
Head-Quarters, New York, March 10, 1781. seep$tf.
Extract [19] of several Conversations that His
Excellency Sir Henry Clinton had with Major
General Phillips, on the Subject of Operations in the
Chesapeak, before his Embarkation on his Expedition
thither, see p 430.
Copy [20] of a Letter from Lieutenant Sutherland,
CORRESPONDENCE OF CLINTON $ CORNWALLIS 135
of the Engineers, to Lieutenant General Earl Corn-
wallis. Billy, Ordnance Transport, Hampton Road,
July 25th, 1781. see Letter ii. 95.
Copy [22] of a Letter from the Captains of his
Majesty's Ships, to Lieutenant General Earl Corn-
wallis, Richmond, Hampton Road, 26th July 1781.
see Letter ii. 101.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [23] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
& c.York, Virginia, August 1 2th, 1781. see Letter ii. 124.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [24] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, in Virginia, August 16, 1781. see
Letter ii. 126.
[Clinton [25] to Cornwallis] New- York, August 2,
1781. see Letter ii. 109.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [37] to his Ex
cellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c. &c.
York-Town, Virginia, August 20, 1781. seeLetterii. 1 30.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [42] to his Ex
cellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c. &c.
York-Town, Virginia, August 22,1781. see Letter ii. 137.
[Clinton [44] to Cornwallis] New- York, August
3Oth, 1781. see Letter ii. 143.
[Clinton [46] to Cornwallis] New- York, September
2, 1781. see Letter ii. 149.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [48] to his Ex
cellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c. &c.
York, in Virginia, August 31, 1781. see Letter ii. 146.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [49] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, Virginia, 2d September, 1781. see
Letter ii. 148.
[Clinton [49] to Cornwallis] New- York, September
6th, at Noon, 1781. see Letter ii. 152.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [50] to his Ex
cellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c. &c.
York-Town, Virginia, September 8, 1781. see Letter ii.
154-
136 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [52] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, Virginia, September 16, 1781. see
Letter ii. 156.
[Clinton [53] to Cornwallis] New- York, 24th Sep
tember, 1781. see Letter ii. 159.
[Clinton [54] to Cornwallis] New- York, September
25, 1781. see Letter ii. 163.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [55] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, in Virginia, 2gth Sept. 1781. 10 p.m.
see Letter ii. 169.
[Clinton [Facing 55] to Cornwallis] New York,
3<Dth Sept. 1781. see Letter ii. 172.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis [56] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, Virginia, 3d October, 1781. see
Letter ii. 1 74.
[Clinton [5 7] to Cornwallis] New- York, 1 4th Octo
ber, 1781. see Letter ii. 184.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [59] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, Virginia, 12 M.October n. 1781.
see Letter ii. 176.
Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis, [60] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, Virginia, i5th October, 1781. see
Letter ii. 188.
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, [61] to his
Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c. &c.
&c. York-Town, Virginia, October 20, 1781. see
Letter ii. 205.
[Clinton [67] to Cornwallis] New- York, 3oth
November, 1781. see Letter ii. 217.
[Cornwallis [68] to Clinton] New- York, December
2d, 1781. see Letter ii. 219.
[Clinton [71] to Cornwallis] New York, December
2d, 1781. see Letter ii. 240.
A
REPLY
T O
SIR HENRY CLINTON'S
NARRATIVE.
WHEREI N
HIS NUMEROUS ERRORS ARE POINTED OUT,
AND THE CONDUCT OF
LORD CORNWALLIS
FULLY VINDICATED
FROM
ALL ASPERSION:
INCLUDING THE WHOLE OF THE
PUBLIC AND SECRET CORRESPONDENCE,
BETWEEN
LORD GEORGE GERMAIN,
SIR HENRY CLINTON,
AND
HIS LORDSHIP;
AS ALSO
INTERCEPTED LETTERS FROM
GENERAL WASHINGTON.
AUDI ALTER AM PARTEM —
NON FUMUM VENDO, NEC FUCUM FACIO.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR R. FAULDER, NEW BOND STREET,
AND J. DEBRETT, PICCADILLY.
MDCCLXXXIII.
REPLY
TO
SIR HENRY CLINTONS
NARRATIVE.
SIE,
YO U have roused the public attention to an
affair, that your bitterest enemy would not
have been so impolitically cruel as to handle. The
unfortunate issue of the campaign in 1781, was sink
ing into oblivion. The wound it gave your Sovereign,
and your Country, was almost closed by the lenient
hand of Time. With rash hand you have torn it
asunder. Your Narrative challenges OPINION — and
you cannot count it obtrusion that you meet it.
[ 4 ] Your tale, though by no means clear, pos
sesses at least one of the characteristics of truth.
It is simplicity itself. I cannot, therefore, suspect
deceit in your obscurity, nor think, that when you
are confused, you intend to be unintelligible, and
thus practise on paper, a piece of generalship, some
times successful in the field, where green and rotten
materials are heaped together, and set on fire, that
their smoke may favour an escape, when battle would
be imprudent.
Having paid this tribute to your candour, Sir
Henry, you will be the less pained at the liberty
I shall take, of arranging the matter of your Narra-
18— 2
140 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
tive in such distinct order that the dullest capacity
shall be able to comprehend it ; especially, as my
motive for this arrangement is, to save you from the
anxiety of misrepresentation, which you have already,
it seems, so grievously experienced, through the
want of that necessary precaution in the communi
cation of your thoughts.
Upon a patient and accurate perusal of your
pamphlet, I find, that although you confess " truth
compels you to impute our [ 5 ] misfortunes,
ultimately, to the want of a covering fleet," yet, still
you would give the world to understand, that the
measure, which led to those misfortunes, was taken
by Lord Cornwallis, " not only without your approba
tion, but even contrary to your wishes and intentions*"
And this heavy charge you allow yourself to make,
without, at the same time, submitting to the public
consideration letters written by his Lordship,
accounting for his conduct on the occasion you
allude to. But, suspicious as this omission is, it
does not induce me to retract my opinion of your
candour. The man who complains of the publication
of Lord Cornwallis's letter of the 2nd of December,
1781, unaccompanied by its answer f ,la2 cannot,
surely, through design, adopt the very same mode, he
is himself so earnest in reprobating. In opposition,
however, to this imputation on his Lordship, impar
tiality obliges me to produce extracts of the letters
of that nobleman, whom thus (doubtless through
inadvertence) you would [ 6 ] have wronged, by
neglecting to couple his justification with your
charge. In one of them, written to yourself, on the
loth, and received on the 22d, of April, 1781, it
appears that you had, so late as that period, left his
* p. [8] 1 1 of the Narrative. f Ibid. p. [5] 8.
1 These Letters having been by a Repetition — nor do they
read in the House of Lords & refute the above Charge,
already published there was no 2 they were read in the house
necessity to swell the Narrative of Lords,
TSEifiSTOOL&S1 REPLY TO NARRATIVE 141
Lordship in the dark, as to your intended operations
of the summer* In this state of uncertainty he
remained at Wilmington, till the 24th of the same
month,1 when, receiving intelligence of General
Greene's march into South Carolina, and appre
hensive, on [ 7 ] that event, of fatality to Lord
Rawdon, which he shews very circumstantially in his
letter of this date to General Philips f, as also in one
to Lord George Germain the day before J, the utter
improbability of averting, otherwise than by quitting
his post at Wilmington, and pointing his route
towards Hillsborough, in hopes to withdraw Greene,
he determines on that measure, which, he informs
you, in his letter of the same day, he is under the
necessity of adopting,2 " as he finds there is no pro
spect of a speedy reinforcement from Europe, and
that the return of Greene to North Carolina, would
put a junction with Philips out of his power §."
But, in taking this step, we see his Lordship, in an
other letter to you of the same date, securing the
conveyance of his Majesty's troops to South Carolina,
by every means, that the wisest precaution could,
in his critical situation, suggest, in case his junction
with Ge[ 8 Jneral Philips, should be found inexpe
dient or impracticable ||.
* Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp before Wilmington, loth April, 1781. see Letter p 395.
t See the letter in the Appendix, No I.p 427.
+ Appendix, No. II. p 420.
§ See his Lordship's letter in the Appendix, No. III. p 424.
|j See Appendix, No. IV. p 426.
1 no Communication could be his Reason for marching into
had with Lord Cornwallis from Virginia but none he has yet
his Passage of the Catawba until seen have been sufficiently satis-
his arrival at Wilmington had factory to convince him that the
his Lordsp received my letter of measure was not in the high
the 1 4th March he would have degree impolitic, & fatal to our
seen my opinion on that subject. Southward Possessions, and has
2 Sir Henry Clinton does not always given that opinion to his
doubt that Lord Cornwallis had Lordship
142 GLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Such, Sir, is the history of " Lord Cornwallis's
march into Virginia, without consulting his com
mander in chief." From your manner of narrating the
circumstances, one would be apt to conclude,1 he might
have consulted you, if he would ; but he must be
blinded by prejudice indeed, who, after reading his
Lordship's account of this business, does not perceive,2
that the necessity of his affairs, alone, prevented him
from seeking your advice, in an undertaking " that sat
heavy on his mind." — a It is very disagreeable to me,"
says he,in one of his letters already quoted,3 " to decide
upon measures so very important, and of such conse
quence to the general conduct of the war, without
any opportunity of procuring your Excellency's direc
tions or approbation ; but the delay and difficulty of
conveying letters, and THE4 IMPOSSIBILITY OF WAITING
for answers, render it indispensibly necessary.
[ 9 ] Beside, solid operation (as you term it Sir
Henry) in Virginia met the warmest approbation of
the Ministry. The reduction of that province was a
favourite contemplation of your Sovereign, long*
previous to the letters you refer to in your Appendix.
It was a step deemed absolutely necessary, to secure
the subjection of the Carolinas.5' This was the opinion
of Lord Cornwallis also. And the numerous proofs,
that illustrious General had given of his gallantry,
his skill, and his judgment, had obtained reverence to
his sentiments. The glorious battle of Camden,6 and
the wise and salutary measures he took in consequence,
* See letters from Lord George Germain, in Appendix, No. V. pp 334
and 337.
1 certainly — Had he remained resisting any measure his Lord-
only a few days longer at Wil- ship once determines on.
mington 5 The Narrative says nothing
2 The necessity nowhere ap- to the contrary.
pears — but the contrary 6 Sir H. Clinton ever spoke of
3 read in the house of lords the Battle of Camden in Terms
4 Rather the impossibility of of the Highest Praise,
THEMISTOCLES' REPLY TO NARRATIVE 143
had crowned his reputation.* [ 10 ] He possessed the
entire confidence of Government, at a season, when
you, Sir Henry, confess you murmured at the indignity
of [ 1 1 ] wanting it. It is not then matter of surprise,
that a commander in chief, brooking continuance in
office under so mortifying a [ 1 2 ] circumstance, should
scowl on measures, whose success must have added
to his chagrin.-)*2-
[13] It is to this temper we ought, in candour, to
ascribe the many inconsistencies, Sir Henry, which
are apparent in the course of your nar[i4Jration.
" J The plan I had formed," say you, " for the
campaign of 1781, (upon the expectation of a rein
forcement from Europe — from the West Indies, and
from the southward, (after operation should cease in
that quarter) added to what I might be able to spare
at the time, from the small force under my immediate
command at New York) was calculated to make a
fair and solid effort, in favour of our friends, in a
district where, I had some reason to believe, they
[ 15 ] were numerous and hearty, and where I
judged it might be made with little danger, even
from a temporary naval superiority of the enemy.4'
* To give our Readers some idea of the high estimation in which
Lord Cornwallis was held by his Majesty, at this time, the following
extract of a letter from Lord George Germain,1 dated 9th November,
1780, is inserted, see p 2 go.
*t* Nor was Lord Cornwallis insensible of this disposition of the Com
mander in Chief, as appears from the following extract from a letter
of his Lordship to Sir Henry Clinton, dated at Bird's Plantation,
north of James River, 26th May, 1781.3 see yy 487.
+ Narrative, p. [6 and 7] 10 and u.
1 This letter was read in the of the whole army.
House of Lords. 3 read in H of Lords.
2 It is impossible to prove that 4 Sir H. Clinton never did
Sir Henry ever scowled at Lord suspect Lord Cornwallis's Inten-
Cornwallis measures previous to tions of marehing into Virga
his detaching Major Ferguson to until he reed his Letter of 24th
whose Defeat we owe the Defec- of April (which was about 2ot of
tion of South Carolina, a measure May) and even then he flatter'd
taken as Lord Cornwallis himself himself that his Lordship would
confesses contrary to the Opinion drop his Design in preference to
144
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
This plan had been suggested to the Minister, IN THE
YEAR 1780, and more particularly explained to him,
in 1781 ; notwithstanding which, a preference was
given to another," namely, to Lord Cornwallis's
flan* of reducing Virginia,1 to which you refer in
your Appendix, No. I. Good God, Sir! how can
you reconcile this passage of your Narrative, with
another a little afterwards, where you say, that his
Lordship marched into Virginia " at the risk of en
gaging you in dangerous operations, for which you
were UNPREPARED f ?" What ! Is it possible [16] you
* The fact is, that Lord Cornwallis, being second in command, had
never arrogated to himself any privilege beyond his line of duty ;
he had never offered a plan to Ministry ; tho' he had often indeed
hinted, with great deference, to them, and to Sir Henry, the expedi
ency of carrying his Majesty's arms from South to North — an idea
that Ministry had long conceived, and were pleased with his Lord
ship's coinciding with them in. See Appendix to Sir Henry's own
Narrative, No. II. ii. 13.
f Narrative, p. [18] 22.
a Measure so obviously his Duty arms, & protection for a Naval
— namely the Defence of South
Carolina from Greenes army then
likely to overrun it.
1 As to the Predilection in
favor of reducing Virginia, Sir
Henry certainly complains of it.
But it does not appear that he
ever in Consequence adopted the
Idea of solid operation in that
Province, as the preliminary
measure of the Campaign in the
Chesapeak. On the contrary he
had given his orders to General
Philips, & had made his arrange
ments for carrying into Execution
his own Plan, when he was
prevented by Lord Cornwallis's
taking the Command of the
Army there, and declining to
concur with him in any one of
the Measures proposed. There
fore the next measure Sir H.
intended taking was to secure
a healthy Station as a place of
Force which might be defended
by 2000 men, & to withdraw the
Remainder of the Troops in
Chesapeak for operations to the
Northward during the hot
Months. This station Sir H.
imagined Lord C — would have
chosen and fortified after his
March to Richmond — But in
stead of doing so his Lordship
unknown to Sir H. employed
himself a whole month in un-
profitably rambling thro Virga
His Lordships neglect therefore
protracted the Securing this
Place of Arms so long, that the
Enemy caught us unprepared.
For by endeavouring to attain this
desirable End — the whole Force
was left in the Chesapeak con
trary to the original Design &
taken by the Enemy which cer
tainly wd not have been the case if
Lord C had not come into Virga.
THKMISTOCLE& REPLY TO NARRATIVE 145
could be unprepared for a measure, that, you confess,
had been preferred to your own — your own, which
had been suggested to the Minister, so far lack as the
year 1780? It is not in credulity to believe it. In
deed, your subsequent words enervate the assertion.
"Yet, as I supposed, he acted with at least the
approbation of the Minister, I left him free as air,
to plan and execute according to his discretion*."
And why, Sir, should you suppose he acted with this
sanction? Was there any other reason, beside the
neglect shewn your plan, and the long-know n*}*
predilection of Government in favour of operations
in Virginia? There was none. — You, of course,
foresaw the probability of Lord Cornwallis's march
into that province. The conclusion is inevitable. —
Your being unprepared for the event, is imputable
only to yourself f .
[17] Having, I trust, fully vindicated his Lordship
from the aspersion of wilfulness and precipitation,
of which, (through mere miscon[i8]ception of the
matter, without doubt) you, Sir Henry, would in
sinuate him guilty, I shall proceed to the examination
of your next [19] charge, and flatter myself, I shall
find as little difficulty in rectifying that error, as I
have found in rectifying this.
* Narrative, p. [18] 22.
t See Lord George Germain's letters to Lord Cornwallis, before
referred to, Appendix, No. V. pp 334 and 337.
$ In addition to the very honourable testimonies already produced
by us, as well as by Sir Henry himself, in his Appendix, No. I. p 464
and II. ii. 13 in favour of the movement in question. Our ingenuous
readers will probably be gratified by the perusal of the following
extracts of lettersl from Lord George Germain to Lord Cornwallis
and Sir Henry Clinton.
Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain, to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Whitehall, the ^th of June, 1781.2 See Letter ii. 7.
Extract of a Letter from Lord Georye Germain, to Earl Cornwallis ',
dated Whitehall, 4th June, 1781.8 See Letter ii. 10.
1 all these were read in H of 2 read in the House of Lords
Lords 3 read in House of Lords
19
146 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
And here, sir, permit me, once for all, to confess,
that the chief obstacle, indeed, the only one, I meet
in the task I have undertaken, of setting your con
ceptions right on the present subject, is the loose
texture of your Narrative, on which I am often
puzzled to hang a meaning, that will bear the weight
of any solid operation. For instance, in summing up
your charges against Lord Cornwallis ; after repro
bating his march into Virginia, (which by the way,
it will not only [20] be in favour of your honour,
but your judgment, to distinguish far differently in
future your roll of accusation proceeds thus : " Being
there > as his Lordship could not subsist his army,
without having a place of arms to cover his maga
zines, &c., &c. it became absolutely necessary to fix
on some healthy and respectable station, that could
be made secure against a temporary superiority of
the enemy at sea ; and York and Gloucester seem to
have been originally thought of by Lord Cornwallis,
and approved by me for that purpose.1* But by his
Lordship's misconceiving my orders, he quitted the
neck of York, and consequently, relinquished every
idea of occupying those posts." Now, would not
any man of ordinary understanding, who had read
nothing more than your Narrative, Sir Henry, sup
pose from this passage, that a fixed and solid plan
1 Lord C. on his first coming was natural for Sir H. to suppose
into Virga told Sir H. Clinton that the Idea of possessing it had
that he had read his Instructions also originally struck his Lord-
& Letters to Genl Philips — looked ship — especially as his Lordship
upon himself as bound by them, expressed in very strong Terms his
& should follow the Ideas then Disapprobation of Portsmh
suggested. The Securing a But this is really trifling — the
Naval Station different from Insinuation is totally unworthy
Portsmh (which had been con- of Repetition Besides it may be
demned by that General Officer) also worthy of Remark that the
being therefore one of the Mea- Idea of taking a Place of Arms
sures thought on, & York was certainly originally his Lord-
judged proper for the purpose — ships — as he had not received the
and Lord C. having said in his Thought from Sir H. before his
Letter of 26*. May — that from Lordship mentioned it to him in
Report he thought well of it — It his Letter of 26^ May.
THEMISTOCLES' EEPLT TO NARRATIVE 147
had been concerted between you and his Lordship,
for occupying the posts in question, previous to his
quitting the neck of York ? — He would certainly
suppose so. But [21] were he to advxert to the letters
about that period, he would quickly perceive, that
light and darkness are not more opposite, than such
a supposition, and the reality of fact. Out of this
chaos, let us try to draw some order.
Immediately on Lord Cornwallis's arrival at Peters-
burgh, in Virginia, on the 2Oth of May, 1781, he
found General Phillips dead, and, of course, added
the command of that officer to his own. But on
account of the information conveyed by you, Sir
Henry, to General Arnold, relative to the probable
movements of the French army, his Lordship, in his
letter of the above date tells you, he was restrained at
that time, from any material offensive operations ;
but as soon as he could hear any satisfactory accounts
of the two fleets, he would endeavour to make the
best use in his power of the troops under his com
mand. On the 26th of the same month, he writes to
you thus*: I shall now proceed [22] to dislodge
La Fayette from Richmond, and, with my light
troops, to destroy any magazine or stores in the
neighbourhood, which may have been collected, either
for his use, or General Greene's army ; from thence I
purpose to move to the neck at Williamsburgh,
which is represented as healthy, and where some
subsistence may be procured ; — and keep myself
unengaged from operations, which might interfere
with your plan for the campaign, UNTIL I have the
satisfaction of hearing from you ; I hope I shall then
have an opportunity to receive better information,
than has hitherto been in my power to procure,
relative to a proper harbour, and place of arms ;
at present I am inclined to think well of York."
Here, then, Sir Henry, we develope, what you style,
" Lord Cornwallis's original thought of York and
* See extract of this letter, Appendix, No. VI. ^487.
148 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Gloucester." Let us now look, for what you style,
your approbation. It is very probable we will
find it built on materials as little so lid,* as
the thought you so gravely [ 23 ] tell us, it
was given as a sanction to. In your letter of the
nth of June, 1781, (before quoted) we read the
following advice to his Lordship : u I beg leave to
recommend it to you, as soon as you have finished
the active operations you may be now engaged in, to
take a defensive station in any healthy situation you
choose, (be it at Williamsburgh or York Town)"
— Why this, Sir Henry, is recommendation, not appro
bation!1 And there is no small distinction between
the terms. The former precedes measures, the latter
follows them. But the strife of words is as foreign
from your honourable profession, as it is from my
honest inclination. In compliment, therefore, to
your careless way, I will, for a moment, suppose
(contrary to fact) that you did approve of his Lord
ship's original thought, in favour of York and Glou
cester. On what was that approbation (as you are
pleased to term it) founded ? Had you [ 24 ]
yourself any idea of the situation, but from hear-say,
and consequent conjecture ? 2 Not an atom. You
were every whit as much in the dark respecting it as
his Lordship — And a passage in your letter, of the
6th December, 1781, to Lord George Germain,
clearly evinces this to be the case. Speaking of
the post of York Town, you there say, " And indeed,
if his Lordship had not now informed me, that it was
* In truth, Lord Cornwallis shews, by the preceding words of his
letter, that he had not sufficient information of the situation of the
place, to speak decidedly in its favour, as a good post, though Sir Henry
would insinuate, he did give an opinion of that nature.
1 Does not his Lordship say that Letter approve of his Intention,
he is going to the Neck of Williams- and concurring with his Lordships
burg to look out for a proper Idea about York, recommend that
Harbour & place of arms — & that orWilliamsburg-whicheverhe may
he is inclined to think well of find the best defensive Station — ?
York? And does not Sir Hs 2 Granted
THEMISTOCLES' REPLY TO NARRATIVE 149
a bad one, the eagerness with which I understand the
French have since seized, and are fortifying it, would
incline me to think well of it" So that ihejfirst part
of this grave charge of yours, Sir Henry,1 " that York
and Gloucester seem to have been originally thought
of by Lord Cornwallis, and approved by you for that
purpose," turns out, after all, to be nothing more or
less, than a mere creature of the imagination — there
was neither solid thought* [ 25 ] of the matter, nor
solid (or indeed any) approbation.
But the conclusion, and more weighty part of this
second charge, Sir Henry, is still to be examined.
After asserting, " that York and Gloucester seem to
have been originally thought of, by Lord Cornwallis,
and approved by you for that purpose," you continue,
" Hut, ly his Lordships MISCONCEIVING my orders, he
quitted the neck of York, and consequently relin
quished every idea of occupying those posts!'2 Here
are two things, Sir, which, in your usual loose
manner, you very roundly assert, without one tittle of
proof for their foundation. The first point is his
Lordship's misconception of your orders, and [ 26 ]
* So far was Lord Cornwallis from thinking of these posts in a
favourable light, that although (as has been before set forth) previous
to his mewing them, he was inclined to think favourably of them, on
mere hearsay, yet, when he had examined them himself a few days
afterwards, he speaks of them in this manner : " Upon mewing York,
I was clearly of opinion, that it far exceeded our power, consistent
with your plans, to make safe defensive posts there, and at Gloucester,
both of which would be necessary for the protection of shipping." —
Extract of a letter, dated at Williamsburgh, 1 3th of June, 1781. ii. 31.
1 If it is a charge it was cer- proposed to Genl Phillips — his
tainly not intended as a criminal being engaged in none of his own
one. It was only to show that or having any in contemplation
the thought struck Lord C — as and his having secured a healthy
well as Sir H. Clinton. defensive Station for the purpose
2 Lord C — certainly miscon- of possessing a Harbour in the
ceived the orders — relative to Chesapeak — the latter therefore
sending Troops. — Because the im- not having been accomplished —
plied Conditions under which they his Lordship was warranted in not
were to be sent are incontestably complying with the Requisition &
the following — His Lordship not ought not to have quitted the
inclining to adopt the two Plans neck until further Orders
150 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the next is, his relinquishment of those posts in
consequence of the misconception. To get at the fact,
we will inspect the orders themselves, and we will
then take a view of the construction .of his Lordship.
But, as a preliminary step to the perusal of the
orders, let us cast an eye over some passages of your
letters, which preceded them. On the 2Qth of May,
1781, we find you talking thus, in one of them,
addressed to Lord Cornwallis : — " It is possible, that
the additional corps your Lordship has brought with
you, may enable you to return something to me for
this post : But I beg your Lordship will, by no
means, consider this as a call ; for I would rather
content myself with ever so bare a defensive, UNTIL
there was an appearance of serious operation against
me, than cramp your's in the least." Here, Sir
Henry, you cannot help remarking, that although
you forbear to call for the present, yet, there is the
fullest implication, which words can convey, of your
intention to demand the succours from his Lordship,
which you afterwards did, when you [27] fancied
" the appearance of a serious operation against
you" And on the 8th of June following, are these
words in another letter. " Your Lordship will see,
by Fayette's letter, that you have little more opposed
to you than his corps, and an unarmed militia ; for
we are told here, that the Pensilvania line has
revolted a second time at York Town, your Lordship
can, therefore, CEKTAINLY spare 2000 men, and the
sooner they come the better, without it should be your
intention to adopt my idea of a move, and put your
self in nearer co-operation with us. But even in that
case, you can spare us something, I suppose : "
and a little lower you say, " should your Lordship be
engaged in a move of such importance, as to require
the employment of your whole force, I would by no
means wish to starve or obstruct it ; but in that case
would rather endeavour to wait A LITTLE LONGEK until
my occasions grow more urgent, or your situation can
TIIEMISTOCLE& REPLY TO NARRATIVE 151
admit of your detaching, of which, however, I request
to be informed, with all possible dis[ 28 Jpatch."
Your affairs, it seems, growing more urgent, on the
nth of June, you write thus to Lord Cornwallis : —
" By the intercepted letter, inclosed to your Lordship
in my last dispatch, you will observe that I am
threatened with a siege in this post ; my present
effective force is ONLY 10,931, with respect to what
the enemy may collect for such an object, it is pro
bable they may amount to AT LEAST 20,000, besides re
inforcements to the French, (which, from pretty good
authority, I have reason to expect,) and the numerous
militia of the five neighbouring provinces. — Thus
circumstanced, I am persuaded, your Lordship will be
of opinion, that the sooner I can concentrate my force
the better. Therefore, (unless your Lordship, after
the receipt of my letters of the 2Qth of May, and 8th
instant,1 should incline to agree with me in opinion,
and judge it right to adopt my ideas respecting the
move to Baltimore or the Delaware Hook, &c.*) I
[29] beg leave to recommend it to you, as soon as you
have finished the active operations, you may be now
engaged in, to take a defensive station in any healthy
situation you choose, (be it at Williamsburgh, or at
York-Town) and I would wish, in that case,2 that
after reserving to yourself such troops, as you may
judge necessary for an ample defensive, and desultory
movements by water, for the purpose of annoying the
enemy's communications, destroying magazines, &c.
the following corps may be sent to me in succession
* How poor an opinion his Lordship had of that expedition, may be
seen in the extract of his letter of the 26th of May, already quoted.
see Letter p 487.
1 These three Letters are to be his reasoning — but indeed the
considered as one — because the Extract he has given from the
last refers to the other two — and last fully proves what I said in
this writer ought to have given the last note,
the whole three, that we might be 2 I to case underlined.
able to judge of the Propriety of
152 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
as you can spare them. Two battalions of light
infantry — forty -third regiment — seventy-sixth or
eightieth — two battalions of Anspach — Queen's rangers
— cavalry and infantry. Remains of detachment of
I'jth light dragoons, and such a proportion of artillery
as can be spared, particularly men" And the
urgency of this requisition, you will observe, Sir
Henry, is increased in your letter of the 1 5th of June.
In this you say. — "And as I am led to suppose,
from your Lordship's letter of the [30] 26th ultimo,*
that you may not think it expedient, to adopt the
operations, I had recommended, in the Upper Chesa-
peak — and will, by this time, probably, have finished
1 those2 you were engaged in ; / request you will
IMMEDIATELY embark a part of the troops, stated in
the letter enclosed, f beginning with the light in
fantry, and send them to me with all possible dis
patch ; for which purpose, Captain Hudson, or officer
commanding the King's ships, will, I presume, upon
your Lordship's application, appoint a proper convoy.
I shall likewise, in proper time, solicit the Admiral
to send some more transports to the Chesapeak, in
which your Lordship will please to send hither the
remaining troops, you judge can be spared from the
defence of the posts you may occupy, as I do not
think it adviseable to leave more troops in that un
healthy climate, at this season of the year, [31] then
what are absolutely wanted for defensive and desul
tory water expeditions." The requisition is repeated
in still stronger terms, in your letter, to his Lord
ship, of the i Qth of June, 1781 : Then you tell
him, " that you are persuaded the enemy will attempt
the investiture of New York, and, therefore, heartily
wish, that you were more in force, that you might be
* This letter has been before quoted, seep 487.
t Meaning a duplicate of the above recited letter of the 1 1 th. see ii. 1 8.
1 which certainly implies a August in Debrets Parliamentary
fnsive Station Register No 41. —
Vide Sir H. Clintons letter of 2<i 2 those underlined.
THEMISTOCLES* REPLY TO NARRATIVE 153
able to take advantage of any false movements they
might make in forming it.1*
You again repeat the old assurance, " that if his
Lordship had any solid operation in the Chesapeak,
&c. you should not, as you already told him, press
him for the corps you wished to have sent you, at
least for the present." — And you add, " in the hope
your Lordship will be able to spare me 3000 men.
/ have sent 2000 tons of transports from hence. The
corps I named in my letter of the nth instant, will,
1 imagine, amount to nearly that number. But
should your Lordship not be able to spare the whole,
it is necessary to mention, I expect the de[32]tach-
ment of the iyth dragoons, as they happen to be
placed last in the list."2-
Such were the orders, Sir Henry, which you have
insinuated, in the latter part of your second charge
against Lord Cornwallis, that his Lordship had mis
conceived, and in consequence, made a false movement.
And your reason for saying, he had misconceived
them, is, I find, that you suppose his Lordship had
deemed your requisitions absolute, whereas they were
worded conditionally. Now, both these terms, though
apparently so inconsistent, are yet very reconcileable,
as the late worthy premier, with no less truth than
humour, illustrated not many weeks ago in the House
of Commons. Now, by way of enlivening this sombre
business, we are investigating, I fancy the introduc
tion of that circumstance here, will not be deemed
exceedingly mal-a-propos. The House was in high
debate, uponprecisely the very topic, that you and I are
now discussing. The reconciliation of those two seem
ing opposite terms," conditional and absolute." They
1 All this under the Idea that not come to the Neck of Williams-
his Lordship was all this Time em- burg before the 25 June
ployed in fortifying the healthy 2 This Detachmt was only 40
defensive Station before men- men — of course proves that his
tioned — But unknown to Sir Lordship might have kept all the
Henry his Lordship was at this rest if he chose it.
Time chasing La Fayette & did
20
154 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
[ 33 ] were twisted and turned into five hundred
different lights and forms ; they were pounded,
ground, sifted, and beat up together ; no mode
of mixture, rough or smooth, was left untried with
them, during the course of a long winter evening.
But in vain ! And the wise men of the ]and, were
about to break up in dudgeon, at their mis-spending
so much of the precious time of the nation (contrary
to their usual custom) in attempting to blend incon
gruities, and make absurdity and sense meet. When,
behold, the arch wag in the blue ribbon rose, and, to
the admiration of all present, did the feat in a
moment, by calling to the minds of his auditors, the
far-famed oath at High gate, where you swear, never
to kiss the maid, when you can get the mistress, IF
you do not like the maid better ; nor to eat brown
bread, when you can get white, IF the brown should
not be more pleasing to your palate ; nor to drink
small beer, when you may have strong, IF the small
should not be more agreeable to you. — Now, here,
remarked his facetious Lordship, are conditional
expressions, [ 34 ] yet, in many cases, they act
as strictly, as if they were absolute. For instance,
if I CANNOT like the maid, or the brown bread, or the
small beer — why, in all these cases, the oath I have
taken, acts upon me absolutely. There is no condi
tion, where, in fact, there is no choice. This exactly
was the case of Lord Cornwallis. His situation (for
neither he nor you expected he would shortly be so
formidably surrounded,) did not allow him to make
any of those elections, you pointed out to him, or
suggested. And your calls were pressing — indeed,
most pressing, as the foregoing extracts plainly show
— he was therefore obliged to consider your requisi
tion, not as conditional, but absolute, and to conduct
himself accordingly. But, that the matter may
appear in the fullest, clearest, and most candid
manner, we will refer the public to his letter on the
occasion, and yours in answer, (in answer, Sir Henry
THEMISTOCLES' REPLY TO NARRATIVE 155
— for so candour requires,1) No. 8. of the Appendix.
But, in fairness to Lord Cornwallis, I am obliged here
to mention, in addition to your former reiterated calls,
Sir Henry, one (still more urgent [35] than the others)
dated the *26th of June, 1 78 1 .2' " My Lord, having,
for very essential reasons, come to a resolution of
endeavouring to bring the troops employed on that
service, to reinforce this post, (New York)3 I am to
request, that, if your Lordship has not already em
barked the reinforcement I called for in my letters of
the 8th, nth, 15th, and iQth instant, and should not
be engaged in any important move, either of your
own, or in consequence of my ideas respecting opera
tion in the Upper Chesapeak, you will be pleased, as
soon as possible, to order an embarkation of the
troops specified in the marginf, and of the ordnance
and stores, &c. &c. stated in the inclosed paper, or, in
as full a manner, as your Lordship can, with propriety,
comply — recollecting, that whatever may have been
taken too great a pro[$6]portion of, will be im
mediately returned to you, the moment the expedition
is over"
The amount of all these extracts may be thus con
cisely stated. Sir Henry Clinton acquaints Lord
Cornwallis with the probability of his wanting two or
three thousand of the troops, under his Lordship's
command, to reinforce the garrison of New York ;
and this reinforcement, he tells him, (he is informed)
he can well spare ; but he will not call for it, till a
*[For 26th read 28th.]
t Two battalions of light infantry, 43d regiment, 76th, or Both. —
Two battalions of Anspach — Two of rangers, cavalry and infantry. —
Detachment of the 1 7 th dragoons, and such a portion of artillery as
can be spared, particularly men.
1 Sir Henry wishes nothing Dance after La Fayette
fairer & begs the reader will refer 3 expressed so, for fear" the
to them. Letter shd fall into the Enemy s
2 This was an Expedition Hands and discover the Design of
against Philadelphia — But still bringing away those Troops —
Sir H — was ignorant of Lord C —
156 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
serious attack is menaced against him. That serious
attack is menaced, and the call is accordingly made.
And to convince his Lordship of the necessity for the
reinforcement, the force of the enemy is displayed
before him in the utmost extent, and the diminutive
force of the garrison contrasted to it. *• All the hurry
of apprehension appears in Sir Henry's requisition.
That no possible excuse should be made — two
thousand tons of shipping are sent off to his Lordship,
for the transportation of the troops, and he is told,
more are soon to follow. An empty parade, indeed,
is made of leaving his Lordship to the exercise of his
discretion: [37] But what discretion could he
exercise, under the alarming circumstances, in which
Sir Henry described himself to be situate ? Let his
Lordship's own words answer*. " My own operations
finished, and being of opinion, that, with the force
under my command, and circumstanced as I was, in a
variety of respects, it would have been highly incon
siderate in me, and dangerous for the King's service,
to engage in operations in the upper ChesapeaJfi
[which you will remember, Sir Henry, were the opera
tions suggested by you to him], I thought it incum
bent on me, to take effectual measures, to enable me
to obey so explicit an order, without loss of time. To
this end, as I could not discover in your instructions
to General Phillips, or in your paper, containing the
substance of private conversations with himf, or in
your dispatches to me, any earnestness for immediately
securing an harbour for line of battle ships,3 I
* See the letter in the Appendix, No. VIII. ii. 130.
t Appendix, No. VII. see pp 347 and 430.
1 Sir Henry was under no such 2 However had his Lordship
Apprehension — but meditating a fortunately engaged in those
most serious Blow against Phila- operations, his Army would not
delphia and Rhode Island — which have been lost & America might
would have effectually defeated have still been ours —
the Enemys Designs against New 3 Reperuse these again, and
York or the Chesapeak. You will find great Earnestness
THEMISTOCLES' REPLY TO NARRATIVE 157
thought myself UNDER THE NECESSITY of being content
with the post at Portsmouth, (such as it was] [38]
for I did not imagine myself at liberty to exercise
any discretionary power, by changing that post FOR
ANOTHER, which I knew would have required, so great
a part of the troops under my command, for many
weeks, for the purposes of covering, subsisting, and
fortifying it, that any offensive, or defensive plan of
yours, which depended upon material reinforcement
from hence, might thereby h&vebeentot ally frustrated."
In these few lines, his Lordship has set the
business of the requisition, and his compliance, in so
clear a light, that volumes on the subject could not
do more ; but we cannot close the article, without
adding a few words of his Lordship's in the same
letter: " My resolution to pass James River was
just executed, when I received your dispatch, of the
28th of June, ordering the expedition for the attempt
upon . That order being likewise positive,
unless I was engaged in any important move of my
own, or in operations in the Upper Chesapeak, I felt
a particular satisfaction, that my decision on [39]
your first order, had enabled me to comply so
expeditiously with this. — I was clearly convinced,
when I received these orders, and I cannot yet see
any cause to alter my opinion, that, having a sufficient
force1 remaining for a defensive, in the post that I
had resolved to occupy, and for desultory water
expeditions, if I had detained the reinforcement
required, and specified in your first dispatch, for any
other reason than that of being engaged in an impor
tant move of my own, or in operations in the Upper
Chesapeak ; and if, in the mean time, a misfor
tune had happened at New York, or you had
to possess a healthy Naval Sta- had represented this Post in a
tion which Portsmh was allowed former Letter as unhealthy &
by all not to be & by his Lord- requiring an army to defend it —
ship particularly How then could it be defended
1 His Lordship forgets that he with 2500 ?
158 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
been disappointed of any material object at
my conduct would have been highly and deservedly
censured."
It would be an insult1 on the meanest understand
ing, to suppose these passages needed any comment.
I shall therefore proceed, Sir, to investigate your
next insinuation against Lord Cornwallis, with
respect to his occupying York and Gloucester, in
preference to Old-Point-Comfort, which you recom
mended. Your own account of this business, from
page 19 to 25 of your pamphlet, may [40] be
summed up in a few words. That you had directed
Lord Cornwallis to secure u a naval station for large
ships, if one could be found, that was capable of
being fortified and maintained, against a temporary
superiority of the enemy at sea, AGREEABLE to the in
structions* which you had before given to General
Phillips, and which were of course to be considered
as such to his Lordship. That his Lordship was
inclined to think well of York, from report on the
26th of May. — That he afterwards relinquished the
idea. — That you thereupon " consulted the Admiral,
who was of opinion, a naval station for large ships
was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, and recommended Hamp
ton Road." That you, thereupon, directed Old-
Point-Comfort to be examined by his Lordship, and
fortified ; but that this was disapproved of, " as any
works (his Lordship writes to you) erected there,
might be easily destroyed by a fleet, and [41] would
not answer the purpose ; and that, therefore, according
to the spirit of your orders, he should sieze York
and Gloucester, as the only harbour in which he
could hope to give effectual protection to line of
battle ships." And from this circumstance you
conclude your detail, by supposing, " that his Lord
ship had entirely approved of these posts."
* These instructions are in No. IX. of your Appendix, and No.
VII. of mine, seep 347.
1 It certainly would —
THEMISTOCLES' EEPLY TO NARRATIVE 159
Audi alteram partem. Now let us see Lord Corn-
wallis's account of the business. In his letter to you
of the 4th December, 1781, we find this passage, " I
do not recollect that any conversation passed between
us the other day, before the publication of my letter,
relative to my reasons for taking possession of the
posts of York and Gloucester. But in answer to
your dispatches dated the Sth and nth of July,
directing me so POSITIVELY to possess an harbour in
the Chesapeak for line of battle ships, your Excellency
will see, that after finding that works on Point-
Comfort could not protect a naval force in Hampton
Road, I thought that [ 42 ] I acted in strict obedience
to your orders, by taking possession of those posts.
I thought it unnecessary to enter into a minute detail
of the disadvantages of the ground, either on my first,
examination of it in the month of June, or in my
return to it in August ; because, on the first occasion,
as I have already had the honour of explaining to
your Excellency, I did not, after seeing it, entertain
for a moment, an idea of occupying it. — Not thinking
myself at liberty, by the instructions* under which I
then acted, to detain the greatest part of the force in
Virginia, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING A HARBOUR FOR
SHIPS OF THE LINE : and, on my return to it in August,
I thought it then became my dutyf% to make [ 43 ]
the best of it I could, having no other harbour to
propose in its place."1*
* The instructions his Lordship here alludes to, are those given to
General Phillips, which may be seen in the Appendix, No. VII. see
p 347, and in no part of those do we find anything to contradict ; on
the contrary, we see every thing that can strengthen this opinion of
his Lordship — In them there is no positive, no absolutely indispensible
direction, to sieze and occupy a covering for large shipping.
t At this time his Lordship was left no alternative. A post
for covering large shipping was then (and not before) ABSO
LUTELY NECESSARY, and there was no other place for that pur-
1 It does not appear from hence thought ill of the Post — but on
that Sir Henry had any Cause at the Contrary that he thought well
the Time to suppose Lord C — of it — But if he judged that he
160 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Here then is the choice that regulated his Lord
ship's conduct, on this occasion — not such a choice,
as you, Sir Henry, would in[ 44 ] sinuate his Lord
ship had it in his power to make, namely, that in
which an alternative presented itself. The fact is,
he had no more power than old Holson used to give
at Oxford, when any of the scholars applied to him
to hire a horse : " Aye, aye, come to the stable, my
lad, and thou shalt have thy choice, cried Square-toes."
The younker hereupon hastened to the spot with
much glee, thinking to suit his mind among a number,
— but he was suffered to go no farther than the door,
and whichever of the nags happened to be next, was
pointed out to him — What ! (remonstrated he) did
you not say I should have a choice. " And so thou
shalt, young man, quoth Hobson — THAT OR NOTHING."
I have, by this time, Sir Henry, I trust, shewn you
how very erroneous your conceptions have been of the
conduct of Lord Cornwallis, in respect to his move
from Wilmington, which is the first measure you
have taken upon you to censure. Nor have I (I
flatter myself) being less successful in putting you
right, in regard to your false notions of his [45 ]
conduct, in quitting his position at William sburgh,
and (on his return) in occupying York Town, &c.
which, it seems, is your second charge against him.
It therefore now only remains, that I should turn my
thoughts to the rectifying your ideas, concerning his
Lordship's continuing in that post, till his unmerited and
pose, but York Town, as Point Comfort would not answer, as may
be seen by the following official report :
Copy of a Letter, from the Captains of his Majesty's Ships to Earl
Cornwallis, relative to the state of Point Comfort, dated
Richmond, Hampton-Road, July 1781. see ii. 101.
was to be governed by the orders abiding by a small Post, such as
and Instructions to General Phil- Mill Point, in Elizabeth Kiver.
lips It will be found that his Therefore Sir Henry had certainly
Lordship notwithstanding this reason to judge that York was a
seeming positive order had still Post of his Lordship's Choice
the Power of rejecting the Post from his staying in it.
if he found it untenable and
THEfflSTOOLBS* REPLY TO NARRATIVE 161
much-lamented capture (which appears to be your third
and last charge). And in doing this, I shall not only
shew that your constant promises of relief would
have rendered any attempt of his to escape, not only
disgraceful, and highly criminal, but that you your
self, to this very hour, are inwardly of the same
opinion, notwithstanding you have been prevailed
upon, by vile sycophairts*, to insinuate, " that you
were in [ 46 ] hopes he would have tried to escape,
with part of his army, to the southward, between the
time of the French fleet's arriving in the Chesapeak,
and his receiving information from you, that Sir
Samuel Hood had joined Mr. Graves, which was not
until the 1 3th of September, OR between that time
and the junction of Mr. Washington with the Marquis
de la Fayette, when his Lordship heard from [ 47 ]
Lieutenant Conway of the navy, that the enemy were
thirty-six sail of the linef."
* I have such respect for the exalted rank, the honour and
integrity of Sir Henry Clinton, that I gladly embrace this oppor
tunity of convincing the world, that no part of the unfounded
charges, puny insinuations, and ridiculous absurdities, with which the
NARRATIVE abounds, could have originated from him ; but were the
base offerings of sycophants, which his facile temper accepted, when
his better judgment would have rejected them with indignation, had
he examined them as scrupulously as I have done. Miscreants of
this sort buz about the ear of every great man. And Sir Henry him
self, in the following extract of one of his letters, confesses such to be
his lamentable situation. This confession, added to his general good
character, has induced me, contrary to all appearances, to give Sir
Henry Clinton credit for candour, though I am under the necessity of
debiting his discernment for the allowance.
" Extract of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Cornwallis,
dated New York, $oth November, 1781. see Letter ii. 217.
MY LORD,
" After the conversation I had with your Lordship, (before I sent
your letter to be published) in which we seemed so perfectly to
agree, &c.
" But being informed (perhaps OFFICIOUSLY) &c.
Poor Sir Henry ! — Yet your fate is not singular. Informers and
other officious gentry, have brought many a great man into disgrace,
besides yourself.
t See pages [29 and 30] 36 of the Narrative.
21
1 62 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Before I enter upon this part of the task I have set
myself, you will permit me, Sir, to shew, that York
Town was by no means a favourite post of Lord
Cornwallis's, or such a place as he would have staid
to defend, if he could, with honour, have relinquished.
— Read his Lordship's opinion of that situation,1 so
far back as July the 8th, 1781, in a letter to yourself.
" I must AGAIN, (said he) [for this was not the first
time he had given you his thoughts on the subject^]
take the liberty of calling your Excellency's serious
attention to the question of the utility of a DEFENSIVE
post in this country, which cannot have the smallest
influence on the war in Carolina, and which can only
give us some acres of an unhealthy swamp,2 and is
for ever liable to become a prey to a foreign enemy,
with a temporary superiority at sea. Desultory ex
peditions in the Chesapeak, may be undertaken from
New York, with as much ease, and more safety,
whenever there is rea[ 48 ]son to suppose that our
naval force is likely to be superior for two or three
months." — Here, Sir, you had sufficient warning given
you of his Lordship's situation — a situation "for ever
liable to become a prey to a foreign enemy, with a
temporary superiority at sea*'1 And yet, notwith
standing this early admonition, (through an infirmity
of your memory, I make no doubt) you venture to
aver, " that you never heard from his Lordship, that
this ground was unfavourable, till the day before he
had offered to capitulate^?' To the same unfor
tunate laxity of brain, Sir Henry, we must impute
your assertion, " that you had never given him any
ASSURANCES of the exertions of the navy, before
your letter of the 2%th of September," or " that any
* See Debrett's Parliamentary Register, No. XLI. p. 180.
"f" See Narrative,}*. [31] 37.
1 This writer is desired to 2 His Lordp alluded to Portsmth
read the Letter he quotes once 3 This proves the writer to be
more & he will find that his a fool, & the former Part shows
Lordship speaks of Portsmouth him to be some low lived scoun-
not of York. drel.
TBSMI8TOCLBS* EEPLY TO NAEEATIVE 163
assurances whatsoever, given by you, could have pre
vented his attacking the Marquis de la Fayette,
before Mr. Washington joined that General, which
was on the 2jth of September *." [ 49 ] Will you credit
your own letters, Sir Henry? Here is one of the 2d
of September, 1781, addressed to Lord Cornwallis, in
which you tell him, " that Washington is moving his
army with an appearance of haste, and gives out,
that he expects the co-operation of a considerable
French armament ; but " that his Lordship, however,
may be assured, that if this should be the case, you
shall either endeavour to reinforce the army under
his command, by all the means within the compass
of your power, OR to make every possible diversion in
his Lordship's favour." You further tell him, that
forty sail of French ships were counted at about sixty
leagues distance from the coast, "However, as Rear
Admiral Graves, after being joined by Sir Samuel
Hood, with fourteen coppered ships of the line, sailed
from New York on the 3ist ult. with a fleet of
nineteen sail, besides some fifty-gun ships, you
flattered yourself, his Lordship would have little to
apprehend from that of the French." Now, pray,
Sir Henry, after [50] deliberately reviewing this letter
of yours, can you, with any composure of muscles,
affect to think you did not give Lord Cornwallis, all
the encouragement you could, to remain in the post of
York at that period ?* As to the pitiful quirk meant
to be practised under the firm assurances of naval
exertion, before mentioned, it might do honour to a
knight of the post ; but whether it would shine with
equal lustre among the memorabilia of a knight of
the bath, is to me somewhat problematical.
But this is not the only encouragement his Lordship
received from you, before the 24th. On the 6th of
September, 1781, We find you chearing him in this
manner : " My Lord, as I find, by your Lordship's
* See Narrative, p. [31] 37 and 38.
1 I cannot conceive who this Black guard can be.
164 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
letters, that De Grasse has got into the Chesapeak,
and I can have no doubt, but Washington is moving,
with at least 6000 Frenchand Kebel troops against you,
I think the best way to relieve you, is to join you as
soon as possible, with all the force that can be spared
from hence, which is about 4000 men ; they [51] are
already embarked, and will proceed the instant I
receive information from the Admiral that we may
venture, or that from other intelligence, the Com
modore and I shall judge sufficient to move upon."
" By accounts from Europe, we have every reason
to expect Admiral Digby hourly on the coast.1*
" I beg your Lordship will let me know, as soon
as possible, your ideas, how the troops embarked
for the Chesapeak may be best employed for
your relief, according to the state of circumstances,
when you receive this letter. / shall not, however,
wait to receive your letter, should I hear in the mean
time, that the passage to you is open."
Permit me to ask you, Sir Henry, to what purpose
are all these circumstances of relief described?
" 4000 men embarked" — ready for the word of start
ing. — "Admiral Digby hourly expected on the coast"
— to give nerve to naval action " yourself deter
mined not to wait even the return of a letter" but
risk a landing without information, so cer[52]tain
were you of support, and so eager to relieve his
Lordship. — Believe me, Sir, they were not your true
friends, who advised you to say, " that you had
hopes, between the time of the French fleet's arriving
in the Chesapeak, and his [Lordship's] receiving
information from you, that Sir Samuel Hood had
joined Mr. Graves, (which was not till the I3th of
September) — that he would have tried to escape with
part of his army to the southward. — I maintain, that
no man, possessed of TRUTH or HONOUR, could have
suggested such an idea to you. — This after-thought
1 Does not this prove that I the Fleet as I tell him that I am
did not promise the Exertions of waiting to hear from the admiral.
THEMISTOCLES* REPLY TO NARRATIVE 165
could never be your own. — The heart of Sir Henry
Clinton could not harbour so assassin-like a mischief.
Were it possible that his Lordship should have been
forsaken by his wonted magnanimity — were it
possible, that pannic-struck, on the first appearance
of the French fleet, he should have fled precipitately
from his post, without first acquainting his Com
mander in Chief with his situation, or consulting
him upon measures for his conduct. I say, were
these things possible — had his [53] Lordship so
disgraced himself — what HOPES, but the hopes of
blackest malignity, could have been gratified on so
melancholy an occasion ? THEN, indeed, would all
his goodly crop of laurels have been blasted — THEN,
indeed, would he have feasted the envious, and the
base. — With what face, THEN, could he have met
his dishonoured Sovereign, and his injured Country,
while, with honest hand, some good IAGO held out to
the world, these damning proofs of your gallant
encouragement and enterprize, and his mean despond
ency and retreat! — a brave man has no poor suspicions
— no dishonourable hopes — His confidence in himself,
makes him slow to distrust others.
His Lordship acted more in character. He sent
you word, Sir Henry, of the appearance of the enemy,
and waited your direction and advice, as you hap
pened to be superior IN COMMAND. You lost no time
(notwithstanding your, I trust, careless and lately
adopted HOPES) of giving him the most CIRCUM
STANTIAL reasons to suppose he should be relieved.
On this occasion, you lost [ 54 ] your usual fondness
for conditional direction and advice. You spoke
absolutely of relief. If he retreated — that retreat
would have been at his Lordship's utmost peril. —
You gave him no direction for his shield against
future animadversion.
On this article, believe me, Sir Henry, my
humanity has been pained to dwell so long, and I
shall, therefore, with the greater eagerness, shorten
166 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
my observations on the rest of the Narrative ; as
what is to come, appears to take its hue from
what is past.—" There were not any ASSURANCES
[you'll pardon me, Sir Henry, for remarking this
pettyfogging appropriation of language] (you say)
whatsoever, given by you, that could have prevented
his attacking the Marquis de la Fayette, before he
joined General Washington, which was on the 2yth
of September." — Not one ? — Pray, Sir Henry, what
were the intimations already mentioned ? — If they
did not authorize him to retreat, they, of course,
did not authorize him to cease from labouring to
put his post in the best state [55] of defence, it
could possibly admit. — And, if so — you must see,
that so far from being in a capacity to attack the
Marquis de la Fayette, before the 27th of September,
(the day he joined General Washington) he was then
hard at work with his whole force, endeavouring to
fortify himself, so as to be able to keep out intruders,
and to receive your good company, and that of your
4000 attendants, promised him by your polite card
of the 6th of the same month. But, that I may not
be suspected of a weak memory, (like my neighbours)
take the worthy nobleman's own words for my asser
tion. In his letter to you of the 22d of August,
1781, dated from York Town, his Lordship tells you,
" That his experience of the fatigue and difficulty of
constructing works in that warm season, convinced
him, that ALL the labour, that the troops there would
be capable of, without ruining their health, would be
required for at least six WEEKS, to put the intended,
works at this place in a tolerable state of defence."
Now, Sir, if we add six weeks, [ 56 ] that is to say,
forty-two days, to the date of this letter , which is the
22d of August, we will find, that instead of thinking
of scampering parties, his Lordship had as much
work at home, as must have employed all his hands,
till at least the first of October ; so that it was utterly
impossible for him, consistent with military etiquette,
THEMISTOCLES' REPLY TO NARRATIVE 167
to have given the Marquis a meeting before the
27th of September, as you (probably owing to your
knowledge of his Lordship being no way tardy on
such occasions) would appear to suppose he might.
Having given you my thoughts of your encourage
ment to Lord Cornwallis, to keep his post, I fancy
the world would think hardly of me (when the
matter is in my power), if I withheld his Lordship s
own sentiments on the business. You yourself,
Sir Henry, say, in the fourth page of your Narrative,
" that letters, written to the moment, as events
happened, are certainly the most faithful records of
actions, and intentions. — I liked the principle, and
have hitherto conducted my review of your Narrative
upon it ; and for the [57] same reason now, that I
am gotten almost to my journey's end, I shall not
deviate from it. His Lordship writes thus to you,
from York Town on the i6th and i*jth of Sept. 1781,
Sir, I have received your letter of the 2d and 6th.
" IF I had no hopes of relief, I would rather risk
an action than defend MY HALF FINISHED works. But
as you say Admiral Digby is hourly expected, and have
promised every exertion to assist me. — I do not think
myself justifiable in putting the fate of the war upon
so desperate an attempt."* To this there is added a line
or two, written on the 1 7th, — " Lieutenant Conway
of the Cormorant is just arrived. He assures me,
that since the Rhode Island squadron have joined,
they have thirty-six sail of the line.
" This place is in no state of defence, if you cannot
relieve me very soon, you must be prepared to hear
the worst."
On the last passage, Sir Henry, you eagerly lay
hold (a rush in the hands of one drown[ 58]ing has
the salvation of an oakj) and you tell us, " that until
Lieutenant Conway, had given his Lordship this
information, he appears to have implied, in all
* The whole of this important letter may be seen in the Appendix,
No. IX. see ii. 156.
168 CLINTOtf-CORNWALLIB CONTROVERSY
his letters, that he could hold out as long as all his
provisions lasted." — True. — It is granted. But he
did not, when he so writ, know that the French had
a superior fleet to our's, and, consequently, he could
not apprehend (encouraged as he was by your letters
of the 2d and 6th) that he should be left in the lurch,
as he was at last. Notwithstanding your boasted
promise of the 24th — on the receipt of which,
indeed, namely, on the 2Qth of September, giving it
more credit than it appeared afterwards to merit — his
Lordship's hopes revived, and in the warmth of his
heart, on the occasion, he writes as you mention, in
page 25 of your Narrative: "I have no doubt, if
relief arrives in any reasonable time, that both York
and Gloucester will be in possession of his Majesty's
troops." — And again, in the same temper, and to
animate [ 59 ] you to the performance of your last
promise of relief, made on the 24th ult. he tells you,
on the 3d of October, 1781, " his works were in a
better state of defence, than he had reason to hope."
— In vain was his confidence — in vain was his
preserverance — in vain was his animation.
The King of France and forty thousand men
Went tijj the hill, and so — came down again !
Sir Henry Clinton embarked his 4000 troops —
made mighty bustle — held many councils and
What ? — saved York Town ? — Psha ! what an oaf art
thou, Mr. Reader, to be so inattentive to the burden
of the ballad I1 He saved no York Towns — he
debarked his men, blockhead ! and so saved THEM AND
HIMSELF, and left York to meet its fate.
To be serious, Sir Henry, I have now dissected
your Narrative, and so rotten a subject, permit me to
assure you, never in the course of all my practice, (of
the extent of which you may form some opinion, from
my dexterity on this occasion.) have I handled. [ 60 ]
It will smell vilely in the nostrils of the people. It
was a thing long defunct, and it were, therefore,
1 Low very low indeed !
THEMISTOCLBS* REPLY TO NARRATIVE 169
better that it had remained for ever buried in the
grave of oblivion. It was unwise to think diffidently
of the smiles of Royalty, and the merits of a long
— long seven years SERVICE in America, and turn
\\ith ivliumv upon a thimj like this!
What will the world now say ? — It will doubtless
pronounce, " that, as not only the minister, but even
the enemy*, thought the whole British force should
be employed in the reduction of Virginia, previous
to northerly operations, you acted wrong in not
employing that force accordingly, before Lord Corn*
\\allis was necessitated to quit Wilmington as he did*—
They will say, that instead of harrassing his Lordship's
brave troops, by to and fro capricious orders, when
he sat himself down at Williamsburgh, you ought
either to have joined his Lordship in Virginia with
all //our force, or to have withdrawn his.— [ 61 ] They
will further say, that this latter measure of with-
chawing his troops, was doubly incumbent on you,
when you ought to have seen the imminent danger
they ran of being captured, on the appearance of
so formidable a fleet, as that of France was, on
tlu> coast of America. Nay, they will say something
still more grating than all this — they will revive
an old prophecy, broached a lon^ time before the
unfortunate issue of the campaign in 1781, "that
the triumph of Charles Town, portended the disaster
at \'ark\ and that, from the LAWRBLS of Comdex,
would be extracted the BANE of the British Empire
on the Continent.
THEMISTOCLES.
P. S. Having, in the correction of your charges
against Lord Cornwallis, necessarily rendered your
Narrative, Sir Henry, almost one entire blot, I would
consider it an unmanly triumph, to proceed imme
diately to another score. For this reason, I leave
* See extracts of General Washington's letters, in Appendix,
No. X, j>p 500, 502, 503, and 505.
170 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
you and the Commissioners of Accounts, to settle the
[ 62 ] matters mentioned in the conclusion of your
pamphlet, in the best mode you may. And, for the
same reason, I shall not enter upon the examination
of those charges, which you have conjured up against
yourself, in pages 13 and 14; but sincerely hope, in
that business, you have regarded the rule of (I think
it is) Quintilian. " Never to raise objections, which
it is not in your power to suppress." I cannot,
however, take my final leave of you, without giving
you one humane piece of counsel : Henceforward,
discard sycophancy — and take honour and common
sense as your secretaries. This done, your friends
will never blush for the productions of your bureau.
APPENDIX.
Number I. [63] Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant-
General Earl Cornwallis to Major-General Phillips,
Wilmington, 24th April, 1781. see Letter p 427.
Number II. [66] Copy of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Lord George Germain, Wilmington,
North Carolina, 23d April, 1781. see Letter p 420.
Number III. [69] Copy of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Wilmington,
24th April, 1781. see Letter p 424.
Number IV. [71] Copy of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Wilmington,
24th April, 1781. see Letter p 426.
Number Y. [72] Extract of a Letter from Lord
George Germain to Earl Cornwallis, dated Whitehall,
March 7th, 1781. see Letter p 337. Extract [74] of
a Letter from Lord George Germain to bir Henry
Clinton, Whitehall, 7th March, 1781. see Letter p 334.
Number VI. [76] Extract of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated at Bird's
Plantation, North of James Eiver, 26th May, 1781.
see Letter ^487.
Number VII. [77] Extract from Sir H. Clinton's
THEMISTOCLES' EEPLT TO NARRATIVE 171
Instructions to Major-General Phillips, dated March
10,1781. see Instructions p 347 •. Extract [78] from
the (Substance of Conversations held with General
Phillips, sent to that General Officer for his Guidance.
see p 430. Inclosed [79] in the above letter the
following extracts from Sir Henry Clinton's letters to
Major General Phillips, April 26, 1781. see Letter p
437. [80] April 30, 1781. p 450.
Number VIII. [82] Extract of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Williams-
burgh, 3oth June, 1781. see Letter ii. 31. Extract
[88] of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to
Earl Cornwallis, dated Head Quarters, New York,
8th July, 1781. see Letter ii. 49. Extract [95] of a
Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated York-town, Virginia, 2Oth August, 1781. see
Letter ii. 130.
Number IX. [103] Copy of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated York Town,
Virginia, i6th and I7th of September, 1781. see
Letter ii. 156.
Number X. [105] Extract of an intercepted Letter
from General Washington to General Sullivan, dated
New Windsor, 29th May, 1781. see Letter p 500.
From General Washington [106] to Mr. Lund
Washington, 3ist May, 1781. see Letter p 502.
Copy [107] of an intercepted Letter from General
Washington to the Marquis De la Fayette, dated
Head Quarters, New Windsor, 3ist May, 1781. see
Letters pp 503 and 505.
A PARTING WORD;
OR, A
SUMMARY REVIEW
OF THE
CONTROVERSY
BETWEEN
SIR HENRY CLINTON
AND
EARL CORNWALLIS.
OCCASIONED BY THE OBSERVATIONS LATELY PUBLISHED BY
THAT GENTLEMAN ON HIS LORDSHIP'S ANSWER.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR R. FAULDER, NEW BOND-STKEET;
AND J. BEW, PATER-NOSTER-ROW.
MDCCLXXXIII. •
A PARTING WORD.
As there cannot be a more unequivocal proof of
magnanimity, than a generous confession of error,
when it has been evidently disclosed, so on the other
hand, there is no circumstance in life which more
clearly exposes the narrowness of the human mind,
than an obstinate maintenance of wrong, when a
choice of right is placed within one's grasp. Those
who have read the controversy between Sir Henry
Clinton and Earl Cornwallis can be at no loss for the
application of these remarks.
To a narrative published by Sir Henry Clinton, late
Commander in Chief in America, arraigning the con
duct of Lord Cornwallis, as accessary to, if not the
immediate cause of " the fatal catastrophe which
terminated the unfortunate campaign of 1781," His
Lordship replied with the intent of shewing, that the
events attributed to his conduct during that campaign
were by no means the consequences of any part of
it. And in order to do this with all the perspicuity
and candour that integrity and common sense could
suggest, the whole* of the correspondence relative
to the principal actions of the campaign were sub
mitted to public consideration, that from so impar
tial a view, as impartial a judgment might be formed
of the propriety of his Lordship's proceedings, " either
when he acted under positive orders, pressing con
tingencies, or discretionary powers."
If Lord Cornwallis's success on this occasion wanted
any aid to render it more conspicuous than a bare
perusal of his answer makes it, Sir Henry's observa-
* In Sir Henry's Narrative, extracts only were given : Which was
the more candid mode of publication, every one will readily decide,
who knows in what a different light the context oftentimes throws a
partial quotation.
176 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
tions have furnished that aid. — The strength of truth
stands never so confessed as when rage and imbecility
assail it.
The sole question of the controversy is very clearly
nothing more than this — Did or did not the conduct
and opinions of Lord Cornwallis bring on, or con
tribute to bring on the fatal catastrophe which
terminated the unfortunate campaign of 1781? The
consideration of any transaction subsequent to that
period, is consequently totally foreign from the sub
ject. Of course, whether certain letters of Lord
Cornwallis, or certain letters of Sir Henry Clinton
were or were not produced at the time of the parlia
mentary enquiry, is matter of as little relation to the
business in discussion, as an investigation of the
merits of Katterfelto and his cat would be.
This being premised, the next point to be settled
is the time at which the review of Lord Cornwallis's
conduct should commence. His Lordship assigns his
march into North-Carolina in the beginning of the
year 1781 for that purpose, and in so doing Sir Henry
appears to join issue with him. " As long (says he)
as I imagined his Lordship to be in sufficient force,
and in other respects prepared, and competent to
give the experiment of supporting our friends in
North Carolina, a fair and solid trial I certainly
approved. But, AFTER the unfortunate day of
Cowpens, &c."* — Now, it is evident from this
passage, that UNTIL the unfortunate day of Cowpens,
which was it seems the i7th of January, 1781, Sir
Henry certainly approved of Lord Cornwallis's design
to march into North Carolina, and of course our
examination of the conduct of his Lordship, with
regard to the campaign of 1781, must begin from
that period.
But before we enter upon this task we will clear
away all extraneous matter, and with this view take
into consideration an observation which Sir Henry
* P. [6] 1 02 of Sir Henry's OBSERVATIONS on Lord Cornwallis 's Answer.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 177
has made on his Lordship's publication, of what he
is pleased to style his (Sir Henry's) secret and most
private letter to General Phillips, dated April
the 3oth, of which act he thus speaks:* "Every
man of sensibility must lament that Lord Cornwallis
has so indiscretely availed himself of the liberty he
supposed was given him, by the late change in
American measures. For, as my secret and most
private letter to Gen. Phillips, dated April 3Oth,
contained nothing for his Lordship's justification, the
publishing of it was highly impolitic at least, not
to say more — for reasons too obvious to need ex
planation." This is a curious sort of argument
truly ! — If the impolicy of publishing the letter arose
merely from its containing nothing for his Lordship's
defence, by a parity of reasoning, there could be
no impolicy in doing so, if its contents could have
done that service. Now, if we take the word
impolicy in its most extensive sense, as an act
of imprudence, hurtful to the community, certainly
in that case the letter ought not to be published
on any account whatever — and it is, therefore,
puerile in the last degree to make any distinctions
with respect either to its hurt or benefit to an in
dividual. On the other hand, if the word impolicy
be taken in its contracted sense, as meaning an act
of imprudence, detrimental to the interests of the
particular person who commits it, it appears (with
great deference to refined conceptions) downright
nonsense to apply it here, where there is no other
reason given for the application, than solely, " that
the letter contained nothing for his Lordship's justi
fication. Oh ! but then we are told by Sir Henry,
that it was his secret and most private letter. Pray
how does this appear ? — The wording of this
remark conveys an imputation of so ungentlemanly
a nature, that a man of honour ought to have
well considered his ground before he had dared
* P. [5] 102 of the OBSERVATIONS.
23
178 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
to hazard it. It was a rash assertion to advance,
<; that the letter in question, merely on account
of the indorsement, was a secret and most private
one. Can Sir Henry say that there was essen
tially any distinction by which this letter could
be discriminated from others, which he had written
officially to General Phillips ? No such thing is
pretended — On the contrary, Lord Cornwallis gives
us to understand in his letter to Sir Henry of
the 26th of May, 1781, that he took the only guide
which the strictest delicacy could suggest to him, in
getting at the contents of such part of the correspon
dence with General Phillips, as it was absolutely
necessary he should see, upon his standing in the
place of that officer. " I opened all your dis
patches to poor Phillips, says his Lordship, marked
on his Majesty's service!'* Lord Cornwallis there
fore justly considered the letter in question, bear
ing as it did this character of publicity, a sub
ject no way improper for public inspection, and
especially as " the measures respecting America,
have now undergone a total change ; "f and he was
the more confirmed in this opinion, on observing,
that Sir Henry himself had quoted a part of it in his
narrative, with the intent of throwing his Lordship
into a culpable point of view.
From this candid review of facts, the idleness, rash
ness, and indelicacy of the insinuation conveyed in
Sir Henry's Observation on the publishing of this
letter, appears beyond all controversy. Whether his
Lordship was so weak (as is farther insinuated) to
publish it, though a matter that " contained nothing
necessary for his Lordship's justification," will be seen
presently, when we come to enquire into the nature
of those instructions, which the Commander in Chief
in this secret and most private letter gave General
Phillips for his future public conduct. — But before
* See P. [80] 487 of his Lordship's Answer,
f See Lord Cornwallis's Answer, p. [2] 64.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 179
we dismiss this subject, we cannot forbear remarking
from what we have as yet observed of this private
mode of giving public orders ; that it appears to us
exceedingly curious, indeed, and we were just on the
point of giving the originality of so eccentric a
thought to the Commander in Chief, when we re
collected the famous pantomime scene of politics in
the Rehearsal, when King Phyz. and King Ush. are
introduced by the ingenious Mr. Bayes, as holding a
sort of dumb conversation on state affairs, and this the
Poet did, for the purpose of shewing his excellence
at " penning a whisper." Now it is very possible that
Sir Henry might have taken the hint from this
wonderful contrivance, and by admiring the poet's
happy knack of rendering mysteries as notorious as
manifestoes, conceived the amazing thought of com
municating public orders in the manner of impene
trable secrets. But whether our conjectures in this
respect be right or wrong, we cannot, in justice to the
genius of Sir Henry, refrain observing, that his idea
of whispering public instructions, is not a whit less
new and surprizing than the art of Mr. Bayes in
publishing a whisper.
Having cleared away every thing that appears
foreign to the subject, we will now commence our
examination of the matter really in question.
Lord Cornwallis, from as plain and candid a state
of facts* as was, perhaps, ever submitted to the judg
ment of the public, thinks himself warranted in
drawing the following inferences : (we will take them
in his Lordship's own words :) — " That our failure in
North Carolina was not occasioned by our want of
force to protect the rising of our friends; but by
their timidity, and unwillingness to take an active
and useful part ; - - - that the move to Wilmington
was rendered necessary from the distresses of the troops
and the sufferings of the numerous sick and
wounded; - - - that the march into Virginia was
* See his Lordship's Answer, pp 59 — 94.
I8o CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
undertaken for urgent reasons, which could not admit
of my waiting for the approbation of the Commander
in Chief; - - - that I did not establish the station
in Virginia, but only reinforced it ; - - - that I
occupied the posts of York and Gloucester by order,
and was induced to remain in them by the prospect
of relief held out to me by the Commander in
Chief - - - and that during the considerable interval
between my arrival at Petersburgh, and that of the
French fleet in the Chesapeak, my corps was com
pletely at the disposal of Sir Henry Clinton, either to
be withdrawn or employed in the Upper Chesapeak,
or sent back to the Carolinas. — And from these
premisses his Lordship concludes, in opposition to
the assertion of Sir Henry, that his conduct and
opinions were not the causes of the catastrophe,
which terminated the unfortunate campaign of 1781.
Now the truth of these deductions must be con
sidered as established, should the observations which
Sir Henry has ventured to make for the purpose of
invalidating them, prove inadequate to that end.
We will examine them separately, The first in order,
is, " That our failure in North Carolina was not
occasioned by our want of force to protect the rising
of our friends , but by their timidity and unwilling
ness to take an active and useful part" Now, let
us see what observations Sir Henry has made any
way relative to this position.
It cannot be forgotten that Sir Henry acknowledged
he " certainly approved " * of Lord Cornwallis's march
into North Carolina, and yet so wayward and con
fused is he in all his motions and opinions, that he
immediately retreats several months back to haul in
" the misfortune of poor Major Ferguson by the head
and shoulders," — a misfortune which he was well
acquainted with longf antecedently to the move
he so approved of. That disaster had therefore
* OBSERVATIONS, p [6] 102.
t See Sir Henry's OBSERVATIONS, p. [34] 294 and [42] 310.
PARTING WOED ON CONTROVERSY 181
just as much relation to the present business, as the
affair of Bunker's Hill, which happened at the be
ginning of the troubles in America. However, as it
affords a very remarkable specimen of the CANDOUR of
Sir Henry, as well as his pertinence, we conceive it
would be deemed a piece of injustice to him to suffer
it to pass without some comment. We will first
give the passage in Sir Henry's own words —
* " Major Ferguson's misfortune was one of those
untoward circumstances, which, Lord Cornwallis
says, occurred during the four months succeeding the
Battle of Camden. — His Lordship after the complete
victory he there obtained, ordered our friends in North
Carolina to arm and intercept the beaten army of
General Gates, promising them, at the same time, that
he would march to the borders of that province in
their support. About this time Major Ferguson was
detached to a distance from his Lordship with a body
of militia, (without being supported by regular
troops) under an idea that he could make them fight-,
notwithstanding his Lordship had informed me, some
little time before, that it was contrary to the ex
perience of the army, as well as of Major Ferguson
himself. The consequence was, that the Major and
his corps was unfortunately massacred. Lord Corn
wallis was, immediately upon hearing of this event,
obliged to quit the borders of North Carolina, and leave
our friends there at the mercy of an inveterate enemy,
whose power became irresistible by this NECESSARY
retreat. This fatal catastrophe, moreover, lost his
Lordship the whole militia of Ninety-Six, amounting
to some thousand men, and even threw South Carolina
into a state of confusion and rebellion.
Here is candour with a witness ! — as an indignant
public will judge from the following real state of the
business, supported by facts : —
Lord Cornwallis, after the complete victory at
Camden, very justly conceived, that if we had any well
* OBSERVATIONS, p. [6] 103.
182 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
wishers in North Carolina, as had been reported, the
manifest superiority of our arms in their neighbour
hood would have inspired them with sufficient firm
ness to avow themselves open and active friends to
the cause of loyalty. In consequence of this opinion,
he sent persons well instructed in his Lordship's
expectations and intentions among the inhabitants of
that province, whom he had been persuaded by friendly
emissaries to rely on, in order to incite them to take
a decisive part at this favourable crisis. And the more
to stimulate them, his Lordship promised to march [not
(as Sir Henry has so very candidly stated) directly,1'2
— but without " loss of time,"] * to their support.
Lord Cornwallis was at this time weakened and incum-
bered by his sick and convalescents, whom yet he hoped
soon to behold in so recovered a state as to enable
him to support the friends he expected to find in
North Carolina. But the restoration of his people's
health keeping no pace with his Lordship's zeal
for the public service — and the dread of disheartening
such as should have been, in consequence of the fore
going encouragement, inclined to act in concert
with his Majesty's forces, determined him, in order to
support whatever loyalty there might be in North
Carolina, to yield to the solicitations of Major
Ferguson for permission to enter that province
with a chosen party of militia [The FLOWER of the militia
of Ninety -six — the very militia which Sir Henry
* The discerning reader will, at a glance, perceive how wide the
distinction is between these two phrases. If one says, he will go
directly to a place, he implies that there is no obstacle to prevent the
immediate execution of his promise — But if one says, he will go
without LOSS of TIME, he certainly means it should be understood, that
he is not so disengaged as directly to set out — however, the party he
promised might be assured he would not delay more than was
necessary — that is to say — he would go without loss of time : and
this was the exact situation of Lord Cornwallis, encumbered with
sick, whom yet he hoped soon to have so recovered as to enable him
to support his friends.
1 I shall take the liberty to quire it thus,
mark such parts as I think re- 2 directly underlined.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 183
affects now to consider as so very heavy a loss] and
the remains of his own corps. [Sir Henry, in his usual
strain of candour, says he had no regulars — were
not the major's own corps regulars ?~] And his
Lordship took this measure — not (as Sir Henry, so
artlessly and so fairly states it)," under the idea
that he (Major Ferguson) could make them fight;
notwithstanding his Lordship had informed him (Sir
Henry) some little time before that it was contrary
to the experience of the army, as well as of Major
Ferguson himself " — No — but under the ideas before
mentioned, and under the positive injunction
that the Major should retire before the face of a
superior foe ; and also under the previous assurance
which the Major himself had given his Lordship
of his dependance upon this chosen party for doing
their duty and fighting well* An assurance sanc
tioned by the antecedent superintendance and favour
able report of a brave and judicious officer f — an
assurance — by no means destroyed by past experi
ence, however repugnant that experience might be
to it:— for, the "great attention and diligence"
of a man high in rank, and military fame, as
Colonel Balfour was, supported by the " active
assistance" of a veteran, so skilful and so in
defatigable as Major Ferguson,^ may well be
supposed, to have given any men under such care
and such instruction, a degree of adroitness in the
use of their arms, and of course a confidence in their
own strength, which, without similar cultivation, it
would have been almost a miracle that they should
have in times past the possession of. These were the
ideas of Lord Cornwallis, when he permitted Major
Ferguson to move into Tryon County. — But at the
same time, lest Sir Henry should have imagined, from
this permission, that the party of militia were
* See his Lordship's letter, p. [22] 263 of Sir Henry's OBSERVATIONS.
t See OBSERVATIONS p. [17 — 22] 239, 263. ibid, p, [20] 241.
i ibid.
184 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
(however improved) adequate to the service of
regulars, he tells him that former experience is
against such a supposition, and therefore he thus in
his letter to him, of 2Qth August, 1780, expresses his
hopes, " that nothing can happen to prevent your
Excellency's intended diversion in the Chesapeak,"
and if unfortunately any unforeseen cause should make
it impossible, he then hopes " that you will see
the absolute necessity of adding some force to the
Carolinas."* — Thus we behold, upon a fair state of
facts, this seemingly wonderful contradiction, of send
ing men to fight contrary to former experience,
nothing more or less than the child of fancy and mis
representation.
Well, but then Sir Henry tells us, that the con
sequence of detaching Major Ferguson and the militia,
was, " that the Major and his whole corps was unfor
tunately massacred." — And, from this way of telling
the story, he would have the public to suppose that
the permission to detach was the cause of the
Major's fatality. — Sir Henry is indeed a genius. —
This is something like the reasoning of a remark
able flighty fellow, who kept a button-maker's shop
in St. Martin's-lane, and could never be prevailed to
go beyond St. Paul's, otherwise than by water, because
a neighbour of his had a son killed on Ludgate-hill
by a mad ox from Smithfield, IN CONSEQUENCE (he used
to say) of his being sent that way into the city. —
But the fact is, that the misfortune of the Major was
no more the consequence of his being detached,
than the boy's death was the consequence of his being
sent into the city. It was an accident and not an
effect, as the word consequence properly imports.
But that the matter may appear in the clearest light,
the following extract of a letter, dated Dec. 3d, 1 780,
from Lord Cornwallis to Sir Henry, is recommended
to the attentive perusal of the public.f —
* OBSERVATIONS, p. [22] 263.
t See OBSERVATIONS, p. [49] 302.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 185
" Lord Rawdon during my illness, informed your
Excellency, in his letters of the 28th* and 3ist of
October, of the various causes which prevented my
penetrating into North Carolina. I shall not trouble
you with a recapitulation, except a few words about
poor Major Ferguson. - - - I had the honour to
inform your Excellency, that Major Ferguson had
taken infinite pains with some of the militia of
Ninety-six. He obtained my permission to make an
incursion into Tryon County, while the sickness of
my army prevented my moving. As he had only
militia, and the small remains of his own corps,
without baggage or artillery, and as he promised to
come back if he heard of any superior force, I thought
he could do no harm, and might help to keep alive
the spirit of our friends in North Carolina, which
might be damped by the slowness of our motions.
The event proved unfortunate, without any fault
of Major Fergusons. A numerous and unexpected
enemy came from the mountains. As they had good
horses, their movements were rapid. Major Ferguson
was tempted to stay near the mountains longer than
he intended, in hopes of cutting off Colonel Clarke
on his return from Georgia. He was not aware that
the enemy was so near him ; and, in endeavouring
to execute my orders of passing the Catauba, and
joining me at Charlotte-Town, he was attacked by a
very superior force, and defeated on King's Moun
tain." — It would be an affront to an intelligent honest-
hearted Reader to add a single word of comment on
this passage.
Still this massacre Sir Henry talks of, is not the
whole of the CONSEQUENCE of the unfortunate Major's
move. " His Lordship was immediately, it seems,
according to Sir Harry's account, upon hearing of
this event, obliged to quit the borders of North
Carolina, and leave our friends there at the mercy of
an inveterate enemy, whose power became irresistible
* [For 28th read 29th.]
24
186 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
by this necessary retreat. Moreover this fatal
catastrophe lost his Lordship the whole militia of
Ninety-six, amounting to four thousand men, and
even threw South Carolina into a state of confusion
and rebellion." After what we have already re
marked, with respect to the pitiful sophistry of
calling that a consequence, which was in fact nothing
more than mere accident, men of sense will doubtless
think it a work of supererogation, to comment upon
any thing stated to be a consequence of any thing so
unconsequential . . But since, besides false reason
ing, Sir Henry has here committed gross misre
presentation, no man of feeling, surely, would wish
any part of such a statement to pass undetected. The
truth is, that not one of these assertions of Sir Henry
are founded in fact. We left our friends (if
they can be called friends, whose contemptible pusil
lanimity was continually betraying a brave and com
passionate army, into difficulties and disasters) exactly
in the same state we found them. Before we moved
«/
into their province, we had no more than their wishes.
— Neither was our condition an atom meliorated after.
If they had risen as they promised to do, they never
could have had a more favourable opportunity, than
after the complete victory at Camden, when all the
force of the enemy in that quarter of the continent
was broken to pieces, and in a manner annihilated.
But their miserable fears would not suffer them to
rise. If they had risen, poor Ferguson's little handful
would not have been massacred. But Lord Corn-
wallis's letter, dated iQth September, 1780, to Lord
George Germain, on this very subject, will render it
unnecessary to observe more. " I had the honour to
inform your Lordship, in my letter of the 2ist of
August, that I had dispatched proper people into
North Carolina, to exhort our friends in that province
to take arms, to seize the military stores and maga
zines of the enemy, and to intercept all stragglers of
the routed army.
PARTING WOED ON CONTROVERSY 187
Some parties of our friends, who had embodied
themselves near the Pedee, disarmed several of the
stragglers. But the LEADING persons of the Loyalists,
were so undecided in their councils, that they lost the
critical time of availing themselves of our success,
and even suffered General Gates to pass to Hills-
borough with a guard of six men only. They continue,
however, to give me the strongest assurances of
support, when his Majesty's troops shall have pene
trated into the interior parts of the province."*
So much for the declaration of our friends. Now
for the loss of Ninety-six. — This assertion is amazingly
venturous, indeed — especially as Sir Henry has
been so careless as to give, in the Appendix to his
Observations,f a letter of Lord E-awdon's to him,J
dated 24th Oct. 1780, in which are words as con
tradictory to it as light is opposite to darkness. In
this letter, after mentioning the circumstances of
Major Ferguson's defeat, his Lordship proceeds
thus : " By the enemies having secured all the passes
on the Cattawba, Lord Cornwallis (who was waiting
at Charlotteburgh for a convoy of stores) received
but confused accounts of the affair for some time :
but at length the truth reached him ; and the delay,
equally with the precautions the enemy had taken
to keep their victory from his knowledge, gave Lord
Cornwallis great reason to fear for the safety of
Ninety-Six. To secure that district was indispensible
for the security of the rest of the province ; and
Lord Cornwallis saw no means of effecting it, but
by passing the Cattawba river with his army, for
it was so weakened by sickness, that it could not bear
detachment.
After much fatigue on the march, occasioned by
violent rains, we passed the river three days ago.
* OBSERVATIONS, p. [30] 264. See also Lord Rawdon's account,
ibid. p. [37] 277.
tP. [34] 27 1-
J \see letter to Leslie of this datej]
188 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
We then received the first intelligence, respecting
the different posts in this province, which had reached
us for near three weeks ; every express from Camden
having been way-laid, and some of them murdered
by the inhabitants. — NiNETY-Six is SAFE the corps
which defeated Ferguson, having, in consequence of
our movements crossed the Cattawba, and joined
Smallwood on the Yadkin."*
With respect to the enemies force being irresist
ible, and South Carolina's being thrown into a state
of rebellion — these assertions are just as weakly
and unfairly grounded as the rest. In fact, the
disturbance in South Carolina had no manner of
relation to the disaster of Ferguson. They arose a
considerable time before on account of a rumour,
" industriously propagated in the province of a large
army coming from the northward,"'}* and were con
tinued by means of the outrages and violences of a
rebel Colonel, one Marion, who, as Lord Cornwallis
describes it,J " had so wrought on the minds of the
people, partly by the terror of his threats and cruelty
of his punishments, and partly by the promise of
his plunder; that there was scarcely an inhabitant
between the Santee and Pedee that was not in
arms against us. Some parties had even crossed the
Santee, and carried terror to the gates of Charles-
Town." — Such was the real cause of the confusion in
South Carolina, — and as to the irresistibility of the
force of the enemy, the honest foundation of that part
of Sir Henry's story, appears equally plain with the
fairness of the rest of his observations, from the few
subsequent lines, which are a continuation of the
same letter. " My first object was to reinstate
matters in that quarter, without which Camden could
receive no supplies. I therefore sent Tarleton, who
* This account is confirmed by Lord Cornwallis in p. [46] 302
of the OBSERVATIONS.
f See OBSERVATIONS, p. [15] 236.
£ Ibid, p. [47] 304.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 189
pursued Marion for several days, obliged his corps to
take to the S \vamps, and by convincing the inhabi
tants, that there was a power superior to Marion's,
who could likewise reward and punish, so far
checked the insurrection, that the greatest part of
them have not dared to appear in arms against us
since his expedition."
As the insidious misrepresentation of Major Fer
guson's defeat, has not in reality any sort of con
nection with the question respecting that part of
Lord Cornwallis's conduct, which has been arraigned
by Sir Henry as the cause of the catastrophe of the
campaign of 1781 — Sir Henry himself having owned,
that he did approve of the march into North Carolina,
which was the beginning of that campaign,* "until
the unfortunate day of Cowpen's," which was the
1 7th of January in that year. It may very naturally
be asked, how a matter so extraneous has been so
minutely refuted? But is not the answer obvious? —
By fully exposing the arts and fallacies of a sophister
in the beginning of his discourse, you render the
remainder of your task the lighter, since by putting
the byestanders on their guard, future impostures are
in a great measure anticipated and detected.
But to return to the subject now properly before
us, Lord Cornwallis's first inference from facts, is, as
we have already mentioned — " that our failure in
North Carolina was not occasioned by our want of
force to protect the rising of our friends, but by their
timidity and unwillingness to take an active and
useful part." Here is a candid acknowledgement
that his Lordship was supplied by the Commander
in Chief with sufficient force for his expedition into
North Carolina, had the promises of rising, so fre
quently made by our friends in that province, been
in a sort fulfilled. But what a miserable contrast
do the Observations on this head form, thrown to-
* Observations, p. [42] 310. — Sir Henry speaks thus in a letter
to Lord Cornwallis, dated Dec. I3th, 1780 — It remains to be proved.
igo CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
gether, as they are in that chaotic fashion, which
the Commander in Chief peculiarly delights in.* —
The evident purpose of his first attack — the express
design of his Narrative, was to place the conduct of
Lord Cornwallis is a censureable light ; and in this
attempt, from the rank and profession of the assai
lant, instead of inuendo or pitiful insinuation, the
least we could have expected, was — open — manly —
and soldierly charge. But much as expectation was
disappointed in his Narrative, it is in his Observations
infinitely more. If Lord Cornwallis had not made a
proper use of that force, which his Lordship candidly
acknowledges to have been entrusted to him, what
hinders Sir Henry from standing forward, and honestly
accusing him for the mis-use of it? — Why does he
not speak out ? — Is it owing to a tenderness for the
reputation of his Lordship ? — Let the complexion of
his Narrative and his Observations answer. Why
does Sir Henry declare, " How nearly the force I left
with Lord Cornwallis in the Southern district, and
which I afterwards sent to him, might have been
adequate or not to the success expected from it,
I shall not now examine ? "f --- And why? --- Oh !
perhaps a fit of compassion had seized his gentle
nature — he had been too severe on the character of
the inexperienced, the inactive, unenterprising, and in
glorious Cornwallis ; and he, therefore, by a sort of
pious fraud, would snatch him from absolute per
dition, by handing him over, in this respect, to the
judgment of the public, who being less conversant
than himself in the military operations in America, in
point of skill as well as fact, would, of course, seeing
the lenity and modesty with which the Commander
in Chief declined the examination, conduct themselves
with similar benignity, and conscious of their in
ability to judge, refrain from the pleasure of passing
sentence. What a despicable farce ! Every man of
* Observations, p. [7 — 8] 103 — 104.
t Observations, p. [8] 104.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 191
spirit burns with indignation at the view of it. This
is to pilfer away that good name, of which direct and
undisguised attack has been found unequal to despoil
his Lordship. But a candid and discerning public
will see through the wretched artifice. And when a
man, who has shewn so sincere a will to depreciate
the claims Lord Cornwallis has on the applause of his
country, declines to examine a part of his Lordship's
conduct, which yet he darkly hints to be culpable —
they will spurn with due contempt so pitiful an insin
uation, and justly conclude, that if examination would
have answered the purpose of his wishes, examination
would have not been declined.
To what purpose does Sir Henry make such a
pompous parade of all the vast force which from time
to time he sent to Lord Cornwallis u throughout
the whole extent of his command"* — Does he
imagine that the public will be deceived by the
formidable appearance of this paper army, and
lose sight of the actual force which his Lordship
had at different periods under his command — a force
which, all the world knows, was continually diminished
by death in every shape in which it could have assailed
a brave and enterprising soldiery. This puerile parade
seems not unlike a piece of puppet shew humour we
have remembered to have laughed at in our juvenile
days — when madam Joan, in her usual strain, is repre
sented scolding her husband Mr. Punch for his
debaucheries, and neglect of his poor little ones who,
she tells him, are absolutely starving — " Starving,
woman, replies the wag — what the devil is become of
the quartern loaf I bought for them a month ago ! "
In the same facetious manner does Sir Henry boast
of the force he sent Lord Cornwallis, affecting to for
get that sickness and repeated actions as necessarily
consumed that, as the appetites of his family did the
loaf of Mr. Punch. But instead of his drollery, it
would be more consistent with the grave character of
* OBSERVATIONS p. [8] 104.
IQ2 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the Commander in Chief to have shewn either that
the force which Lord Cornwallis states to have been
(not on paper but) actually in the field with him, was
more than what his Lordship states — or (if the state
ment be right) — that such actual force ought to have
performed more than it did : — for every other observa
tion is either trifling or foreign from the question.
Lord Cornwallis tells us that his force "present and
Jit for duty" on his move into Carolina on the I5th of
January in the beginning of the campaign of 1781,
was no more than 3224 troops — a force that
mouldered away so rapidly that in the April follow
ing it was reduced to a mere handful — only 1723 men.
And, by the way, from this rapid diminution, no very
inaccurate conjecture may be formed of the reduction
of his Lordship's force in past times. Be that how
ever as it may, the only points of enquiry here are
what we have above laid down.
Now as Lord Cornwallis candidly declares that he had
sufficient force to give the experiment of supporting
our friends in North Carolina a fair and solid trial,
and as Sir Henry has not shewn that his Lordship did
not make the best use he could of that force which he
owns to have had under him — of course his Lordship's
position must be taken for granted, " that our failure
in North Carolina was not occasioned by our want of
force to protect the rising of our friends, but to their
timidity and unwillingness to take an active and use
ful part "
Indeed Sir Henry endeavours to excuse this
timidity and unwillingness of our friends, but it is
only to make bad worse, like the drunken tinker
who, for every hole he mended, made ten. He tells
us that* " he cannot judge of the assurances of co
operation which Lord Cornwallis may have received
from our friends in North Carolina, but from his
Lordship's report, and his Lordship best knows,
whether he received any after the effects of
* OBSERVATIONS, p. [9] 105.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 193
Major Fergusons misfortunes were known." — How
weak and how insidious is this insinuation ! — •
Sir Henry here would have the world to suppose,
that Lord Cornwallis had misinformed him respecting
the disposition of our friends in North Carolina. Cui
bono? — For what purpose should his Lordship have
misinformed him ? Could a false report have bettered
Lord Cornwallis's condition in any one respect under
heaven ? On the contrary, would it not have been
in every point of view injurious and destructive to
him ? If his Lordship had not received the strongest
* assurances of support from the Loyalists to reduce
him to a second attempt to favour their rising, by
penetrating into the province, would it not have been
the height of madness to have made it ? Can any
unprejudiced cool-headed man imagine his Lordship
would in such a circumstance have acted so diame
trically opposite, not only to all his great military
knowledge, but even to common sense ? — " But, says
Sir Henry, his Lordship cannot forget, that our
friends who had risen by his order, were left to
ruin by his retreat, and numbers of them actually
massacred." This dismal picture has been already
shewn to be nothing more than the offspring of an
Hypochondriac fancy ; and, indeed, it is for the
honour of Sir Henry that it should be so deemed,
since, if he really viewed the defeat of Major
Ferguson and its consequences in the same
gloomy colours then, that he appears to do now,
he would have been in the highest degree culpable
in giving his assent, (as he owns he did) to the second
move into North Carolina. " I am therefore at a
loss, continued Sir Henry, to guess what may have
been his Lordship's reasons for being surprised, that
* OBSERVATIONS, p. 30 — Extract of a Letter from Earl Corn
wallis to Lord George Germaine, dated Sept. I9th, 1780. "They
continue, however, to give me the strongest assurances of support,
when his Majesty's troops shall have penetrated into the interior
parts of the province. see Letter p 264.
I94 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
they failed to join him, after the victory at Guild-
ford." — Poor Sir Henry has, through the whole of
this controversy, evinced such a fondness for conjec
ture, that it would be cruelty to see him so lost, for a
guess, as he seems to be, and not afford him some
relief. Though in truth, his loss on the present
occasion deserves rather our laugh than our compas
sion. The shatter-brained fellow, who for a whole
winter's day, amidst frost and snow, sought the very
horse he was riding on, sustained just as ludicrous a
loss of his beast as Sir Henry does of his conjecture. —
To guess at the reasons of Lord Cornwallis's surprise,
what has he more to do, than merely to recollect the
reasons which induced him to approve of his Lord
ship's march to give our good friends in North
Carolina, a fair trial? — And then let him ask him
self, whether the gaining a complete victory over
their enemies, was not such a trial, as might well
warrant a surprise at their dastardly conduct on that
event, after all their former mighty promises of sup
port in case his Lordship came among them ?
However, Sir Henry, with his usual good sense,
apologizes for this backwardness of our worthy friends,
by ascribing it "to the melancholy scene of his
Lordship's camp, incumbered (as it was after the
battle) with a long train of sick and wounded " — a
scene, which so shocked their tender nerves, that
they rode away from it, " no doubt (as their kind
apologist gravely tells us) with aching hearts," com
muning with themselves, like Falstaff on the sight
of the field of battle after Prince Henry had
defeated Hotspur. It was a sad spectacle for men,
more remarkable for their wishes than their spirit.
Facetious Jack liked not " grinning honour ; "
neither, it seems, did our promising friends of Caro
lina. But is not this way of excusing the conduct
of the Seceders, something like the funny mode of
helping the lame dog over a stile, by giving the poor
brute a kick on the posteriors, or a lugging of the
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 195
ears, which, though meant possibly to quicken his
exertions, only exposes his infirmity?
To dwell longer on this topic, would be the idle
task of holding a taper to the sun. Lord Cornwallis s
declaration, " that the timidity and unwillingness
of the North Carolinas in fulfilling their promises, was
the sole cause of the failure of his Majesty's arms in
that province," far from being weakened by Sir
Henry Clinton's observations, will doubtless be con
sidered by the intelligent reader, as confirmed irre
futably ; — we shall therefore proceed to the review of
the next article.
" But as this attempt (such as it was*) had failed,
continues Sir Henry, surely Lord Cornwallis's next
object should have been to secure South Carolina."
What ! whether he could or not ! Must not every
man of common sense see, that when his Lordship
told General Leslie, (according to the words quoted
by Sir Henry) " that if our friends in North Carolina
were as as our friends to the southward, we must
leave them to their fate, and secure what we have
got," his Lordship could only mean to speak con
ditionally; that is to say, as futurity should unfold
itself ? It is thus he explains himself, in his letter to
the Commander in Chief, dated 3d December, 1 780.
" Whenever our operations commence, your Excel
lency may depend on hearing from me as frequently
as possible — and it is from events alone that any
future plan can be proposed" But " Why did his
Lordship march to Wilmington from Cross-Creek,
says Sir Henry, "as he was so much nearer to
Camden and South Carolina ?"f His Lordship has
shewn, that absolute necessity caused this move ; and
has detailed the matter in so clear and satisfactory a
manner, in pages 6 and 7 of his ANSWEE, that- one
* It would have been candid in Sir Henry if he had here opened his
vast stores of military lore, and for the good of posterity, told us the
faults of the attempt, and how it might have been made better.
t Observations, p, [n] 106.
196 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
would imagine the querist had never read it. But
there are many people who talk, solely for talk sake.
And this seems the foible of Sir Henry on more
occasions than the present. In the instance now
before us, he resembles strongly the Irishman, who,
when he lost a race, by the slipping of his horse's
shoulder, used as often as he dressed the diseased
part, to put a number of judicious interrogatories to
the poor beast, and among the rest this pointed one.
" Arrah, Coppul cree, when you fiiided that your
collar-bone vas breaked, phy vasn't you after jump
ing over Paddy Mooney's Pallysaids, and galloping
through dhe mill-race viddhout boddering yourself
about dhe big mastiff on todher side - - - you knows
grah ! dhat vas dhe short cut to dhe winning posht ?
Well, but, continues Sir Henry, " even when at
Wilmington, why did not his Lordship retire to
Charles Town, by the route to Lockwood's Folly, and
the Waggamaws ? which, it is the opinion of many
others, as well as mine, was practicable ? " A hungry
quere betrays an empty skull. It is a great pity that,
Sir Henry has not drawn up his argumentative forces
with greater skill. One fact has more force than a
dozen questions, or a score presumptions, The Com
mander in Chief has forgotten, that he has over and
over again told the public, and told Lord Cornwallis,
that as he was at so great a distance from the scene
of action, he left his Lordship " as free as air, both to
plan and to do according to his best discretion. Arid
now all on a sudden he loses all idea of his distance —
calls his Lordship's discretion in question - - - and
affects to put his own opinion in competition with
that of a General on the spot. But the public will
find but little difficulty in perceiving, that this
same favourite route of Sir Henry's, by Lock-
wood's Folly, would have been a foolish route
indeed ; - - - for if it had been otherwise - - if it
had been at all practicable - - - if it had not pre
sented insurmountable obstacles to his Lordship,
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 197
it is not in candour to suppose that, with all the
circumstances of choice placed in a manner under
his eye, by means of his situation, he did not
make the wisest one possible. Nor is this all the
mischief Sir Henry has done himself by hazarding
this observation - - he has at the same time unwittingly
gotten himself into a very awkward dilemma
either of being ignorant of the nature of the route
he speaks, and consequently of being deemed the
invidious retailer of old gossiping intelligence, or, on the
other hand, of being well acquainted with the route,
and of course a bad Commander in Chief, inasmuch
as he continued Lord Cornwallis in power, notwith
standing his culpable neglect of that route, by which
(Sir Henry now insinuates*) a whole province and
an army were lost.
But there is a story of old Partridge the astrologer,
which hints at a way by which Sir Henry may be
extricated out of his present misfortune. The poor
almanack-maker was one night gazing at the stars,
and his legs having thus lost their guide, brought him
headlong into a ditch. The fall stunned him, but
recovering himself, " It is happy for me," quoth he,
as he scrambled out again, " that all the falsehoods
with which I have aspersed their highnesses, has had
no effect upon their splendour, else for want of light,
I might now perish in a disaster, which I cannot say
but I have merited." Sir Henry too has had his
fall: let us see whether Lord Cornwallis will not
afford him such relief, as the stars afforded Partridge.
His Lordship tells us, that " The disappointment he
met with in his second move into North Carolina, and
the wants and distresses of the army, compelled him
to move to Cross-Creek ; but meeting there with no
material part of the promised assistance and supplies,
he was obliged to continue his march to Wilming
ton, where hospitals and horses were ready for him.
His Lordship then goes on to describe his other views
* Observations, p. [12] 107.
ig8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
and intentions in going to Wilmington ; and proceeds
to state his reasons for quitting that place. " I could
not remain at Wilmington, lest General Greene
should succeed against Lord Rawdon, and by return
ing to North Carolina, have it in his power to cut off
every means of saving my small corps, except that
disgraceful one of an embarkation, with the loss of the
cavalry and every horse in the army. From the short
ness of Lord Rawdon's stock of provisions, and the great
distance from Wilmington to Camden, it appeared im
possible that any direct move of mine could afford
him the least prospect of relief. In the attempt > in
case of a misfortune to him, the safety of my own
corps might have been endangered, or, IF HE EXTRICATED
HIMSELF, the force of South Carolina, when assembled,
was, in my opinion, sufficient to secure what was valu
able to us, and capable of defence in that province. I
was likewise influenced by having just received an ac
count from Charles Town, of the arrival of a frigate with
dispatches from the Commander in Chief, the substance
of which then transmitted to me, was that General
Phillips had been detached to the Chesapeak, and put
under my orders, which induced me to hope, that solid
operations might be adopted in that quarter; and I was
most firmly persuaded, that, until Virginia was reduced,
we could not hold the more southern provinces, and
that after its reduction, they would fall without much
resistance, and be retained without much difficulty."*
Such were the motives which caused Lord Corn-
wallis to reject, not only Lock wood's Folly, but all
other routes into South Carolina. And his Lord
ship's statement, supported as it is, by "lettersf
* ANSWER, p. [6, 7, 8] 69-70.
t See Letter, p. 92, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, subjoined to the Observations',
and p. [50 i, 2. 5, 6, 7] 420, 426, 427, Appendix to the ANSWER,
and particularly a letter written by Lord Cornwallis to Sir Henry,
July 24th, 1781, wherein the madness and folly of a move from
Wilmington into South Carolina, as stated by Sir Henry, is exposed
in the plainest and strongest manner. This Letter occupies pages
[74, 5, 6,] ii. 88 of the Appendix to his Lordship's Answer.
PARTING WOED ON CONTROVERSY 199
written at the moment as events happened, which, as
Sir Henry says in his Narrative, are certainly the
most faithful records of actions and intentions," throw
so clear a light upon the subject, that Sir Henry,
unless he wishes to remain in the error he has fallen
into, will earnestly make use of it. — A handsome
Palinode may retrieve his credit. At present every
one must imagine that he has committed one of
those blunders called bulls, for which a neighbouring
country is so famous. Nothing else can now be sup
posed, but that he first writ his observations, and then
(if at all) perused the Answer, on which they were
meant to operate as a criticism !
After the failure of two attempts in favour of the
Loyalists in North Carolina, which on the one hand
disclosed such a fund of disaffection, not only in that
province, but in South Carolina, and on the other
hand evinced too clearly for even credulity any longer
to doubt it, that the timidity of our friends was
unconquerable, is it not astonishing beyond measure
to find Sir Henry declaring, " I will frankly own, that
I ever disapproved of an attempt to conquer Vir
ginia, before the Carolinas were absolutely restored ? "
And this he says, though he well knew that every
means which could be supposed equal to the quash
ing of rebellion, and inspiring loyalty with courage,
had been tried by Lord Cornwallis. At the battle
of Camden, his Lordship's complete victory had
humbled all the hopes of the disaffected to the dust,
and presented a golden opportunity to the Loyalists ;
yet, our trembling friends, like the wretched people
to whom the Romans proclaimed liberty, had not the
spirit to seize the offered blessing. Still however,
they besought another effort in their favour — another
effort was made, and at Guildford, Victory once more
unbarred the gates to Freedom ; yet again our miser
able friends, with more than female fears, declined
to enter, and fled — not from an enemy, for their
enemies were trodden under foot — No, but from
200 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
their victorious champions. Their pusillanimous
natures stood aghast at the streaming wounds of
their benefactors. And what ought to have inflamed
their just resentment against their oppressors, and
drawn forth their spirit to glorious enterprise, served
but to damp every generous ardour of the soul. —
They shrunk into their lurking holes, and thus in
famously proclaimed to all the world, that they
dared not to be free.
After such trials had been made of the stamina
of the Loyalists, does not the obstinate adherence
of Sir Henry to his former opinions, respecting the
plan of restoring the Carolinas, savour exceedingly
of that blind enthusiasm, which caused one of the
primitive fathers, instead of combating the errors
of infidelity with the weapons of good sense, to
vindicate his faith in terms of the greatest absurdity.
— " Credo, said the holy zealot, quia incredible est."
Seeing then that Sir Henry has thought fit to
oppose the well-founded experience and solid reason
ing of Lord Cornwallis, on the article now under
examination, 'with nothing more than speculation,
assertion, hypothesis, conjecture, insinuation; in
short, with nothing more than mere chimera, there
are few, (if any) of our readers, we may rationally
presume, who are not impressed with a conviction
of the truth of his Lordship's well-supported asser
tion, " that the march into Virginia was undertaken
for urgent reasons, which could not admit of his
waiting for the approbation of the Commander in
Chief." If, however, it is possible that a doubt can
rest on the mind of any one, we refer him for perfect
satisfaction to his Lordship's answer.
His Lordship's next position is also fully proved
from the correspondence annexed both to his and Sir
Henry's observations. — * The impossibility of doing
any thing serviceable in the Carolinas, after the fair
trial which had been made by Lord Cornwallis, of the
* See his Lordship's Answer — Appendix, p. [12] 395.
PARTING WOED ON CONTROVERSY 201
spirit and friendship of the Loyalists on his complete
victory at Guildford, induced him to take the only step
that common sense would have dictated on the occa
sion. — General Greene had left the back part of
Virginia open; his Lordship therefore seized the
opportunity of attempting to form a junction with
General Phillips, in order the more powerfully to
effect the purposes for which Sir Henry had directed
General Phillips, to establish posts in Virginia*
And here let it be remembered that his Lordship was
totally in the dark as to Sir Henry's plan of operations
for the summer. This uncertainty Lord Cornwallis
speaks of in his letter to Sir Henry of the loth of
April, 1 78 1, who, instead of removing it in his answer
on the 3Oth of the same month,f leaves his Lordship
exactly in the same state ; and of course under the
guidance of his own discretion. That discretion urged
him to move into Virginia, as his Lordship very truly
states, not to establish but only to reinforce the
station in that province.
We are now come to what appears, from the whole
complexion of the controversy, to be the point most
contended, namely, — whether his Lordship occupied
the posts of York and Gloucester, and was induced to
remain in them, by the prospect of relief, uniformly
held out to him by the Commander in Chief. And
here we cannot forbear observing, that if the open
generous nature of Sir Henry was not well known,
one of the greatest distresses Lord Cornwallis had to
endure, through the whole course of his secondary
command, arose from that artful, Jesuitical garb,
worn by most of his directions to his Lordship. Con
ditional measures for his Lordships conduct were
constantly pointed out — If they were adopted with
success, of course the merit fell to the lot of the
* See his Lordship's Answer — Appendix, p. [62] 347.
t Ibid. p. [i 6, 1 7] 441 . His Lordship must have otherwise remained
till he should have heard from Sir Henry, either shamefully inactive,
or absurdly and ruinously employed.
26
202 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
director — But at the same time to guard against the
plan of a miscarriage, his Lordship was generally left
to his own discretion, for this and similar plausible
reasons, " as they will have the advantage of being
formed on the spot, and upon circumstances which at
this distance I cannot of course judge of."* Now,
though no one, at all acquainted with the disposition
of the Commander in Chief, can suspect artifice at
the bottom of all this, yet every one must perceive
that Lord Cornwallis, acting under directions of this
nature, must have experienced sensations far — very
far, from pleasing. The correspondence before the
public is full of these Janus looking directions,
iiowever, sometimes Sir Henry (perhaps through
that caprice, and inconsistency that forms a part of
the character of eccentric genius,) dealt less in the
equivoque, as may be seen in that part of the cor
respondence respecting the taking post at York and
Gloucester. — In his letter to Lord Cornwallis, dated
July nth, 1781, are these words: — "My Lord, I
am just returned from a conference with Rear Ad
miral Graves, in consequence of your Lordship's letter
of the 3Oth ultimo,f [in which letter his Lordship
in this very strong language objects to the posts of
York and Gloucester. " Upon viewing York, I was
clearly of opinion that it far exceeds our power,
consistent with your plans, to make safe defen
sive posts there and at Gloucester, both of which
would be necessary for the protection of shipping " —
and a little lower his Lordship says, " But as maga
zines, &c. may be destroyed by occasional expeditions
from New-York, and there is little chance of being
able to establish a port capable of giving protection
to ships of war, I submit it to your Excellency's
consideration, whether it is worth while to hold
a sickly defensive post in this bay, which will
* Answer — Appendix, p. [70] 493.
t See the Letter, p. [123] ii. 31 of the Appendix to his Lordship's
Answer.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 203
always be exposed to a sudden French attack, and
which experience has now shewn, makes no diver
sion in favour of the southern army."] — u And we
are loth clearly of opinion, (continued Sir Henry,
notwithstanding this remonstrance) it is ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY we should hold a station in Chesapeak for
ships of the line as well as frigates."* — Now as his
Lordship's objections, as above fairly stated, were
positively over ruled, and as Hampton-Road was,
upon a survey of the engineers, found unfit for the
desired purpose — does it require any argument to
prove, that the spirit of this order from Sir Henry
did not compel Lord Cornwallis to seize on York and
Gloucester, since, according to his letter, both he and
the Admiral " were clearly of opinion, that it was abso
lutely necessary to hold a station in the Chesapeak
for ships of the line, &c. and these places only could
have answered that indispensible requisition ?
To recur to any anterior documents to explain so
express an order as this, is a work as supererogatory,
as if a man were to beat his brains for arguments to
prove that two and two make four. — Lord Cornwallis
communicated his thoughts on the impropriety of
taking these posts to the Commander in Chief. His
Lordship's ideas, it seems, had no weight either with
that officer, or the superior of the naval department,
and language cannot be more strong and plain
than the directions given in consequence of those
ideas being rejected. It may not be improper in this
place to observe, that although in most of Sir Henry's
correspondence, and particularly in his so much
talked of letter of the 3Oth of April to General
Phillips, any way relating to the Admiral, he either
directly or indirectly speaks of him, as one by no
means of a disposition to co-operate with him ; yet
here, contrary to the opinion of an officer of experi
ence on the spot, and of course best qualified to form
* See this Letter, p. [167] ii. 62 of the Appendix to his Lordship's
Answer.
204 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a judgment on the matter in question, he cordially
embraces the sentiments of the man whose unaccom
modating temper he was for ever inveighing against.
Is this caprice — or is it consistency ? Let the reader
peruse the letter, compare it with this conduct, and
then candidly decide.
"That his Lordship remained in the posts of York
and Gloucester, by the prospect of relief uniformly
held out to him," is a position that Sir Henry has
endeavoured in his observations to controvert, by an
argument, the fallacy of which is so very evident,
that it is astonishing, how careless soever that gentle
man has uniformly shewn himself to be in the choice
of his reasons, he should have adopted it — It is sub
stantially this — If Lord Cornwallis used his own dis
cretion in moving into Virginia, it is fair to say that
he might have used a like discretion in quitting these
posts. On the contrary, it is fair to say, that as he
was perfectly in the dark as to1 Sir Henry's plans,
and neither time or circumstance suffered him to
delay till he could have consulted with the Com
mander in Chief, previous to his march into Virginia,
he was under the necessity of taking that step with
only the guidance of his own judgement. — But in
regard to his remaining in the posts of York and
Gloucester, he was not thus circumscribed — and
ought not therefore to have exercised his own discre
tion, but to have waited as he did for his superior's
orders? — And so it is very evident Sir Henry himself
thought - - - else why would he have undertaken the
task of writing to his Lordship, and giving him assur
ances of succour. — But to argue on a point so clear,
must be an insult to the meanest intellects. And as
his Lordship very properly evinced no disposition to
use his own discretion on this occasion, it is fair to
infer, that " during the considerable interval between
his arrival at Petersburgh, and that of the appear
ance of the French fleet in the Chesapeak, his corps
1 perfectly to as to underlined.
PARTING WORD ON CONTROVERSY 205
was completely at the disposal1 of Sir Henry Clinton,
either to be withdrawn2, or employed3 in the Upper
Chesapeak,4 or sent back5 to the Carolinas." And
the conclusion his Lordship draws from all these
premises, stands of course unshaken as a rock —
namely — " that his conduct and opinions were not
the causes of the catastrophe which terminated the
unfortunate campaign of 1781."
It was not in contemplation by this review to notice
every occurrence in Sir Henry's observations, or in
general to pay serious regard to any part of them.
Serious regard would have been thrown away upon
them. Duplices sunt opiniones qucedam habient aliquid
stabilitatis, nee sunt examinandce ; qucedam adeo sunt
absurdce et ridiculce, ut sua sponte evanescant ; tales
itaque, non opus habient refutatione, sed potius casti-
gatione et reprehensione. High in the estimation of
the military world, and, indeed, of all descriptions of
men, as Lord Cornwallis stands, and tenacious as his
Lordship is well known to be of that honour, the truth
of one of these two suppositions must strike every
man of sense with regard to the silence of that
nobleman, on the publication of the Observations on
his Lordship's Answer — either that they are unworthy
his attention, or that they are incontrovertible.
Now, every one who has read his Lordship's Answer,
must be perfectly satisfied, that he could have been
actuated on this occasion only by the former of these
causes. And such as read this Review, and have not
read the Answer, may, on seeing how easily over
turned the very strongest of Sir Henry's remarks are,
be induced to advert to his Lordship's own account of
his conduct, for entire conviction of its rectitude, and
of course of the idleness (to say no worse) of any
attempt to injure it. In truth, his Lordship's Answer
to Sir Henry's Narrative, would have for ever closed
1 disposal underlined. 4 Upper Chesapeak underlined*
2 withdrawn underlined. 5 sent back underlined.
3 employed underlined.
206 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the lips of any man, in whom the itch of scolding
was not as rooted as it was in the taylor's vixen
wife, that even in death would have the last
word, and when her husband was drowning her,
and she could no longer make use of her tongue,
continued to pour out the bitterness of her soul,
by making signs with her fingers. Sir Henry
would have done his reputation more service, if,
instead of endeavouring to question the estab
lished merits of a brother officer, he had stated to
the public the nature of his own yet to be revealed
seven year's services he mentions in the beginning
of his Narrative. He should have spurned the
miserable craft of little minds, who, conscious of
their inability to soar to eminence, strive to pull
down to their own level, that character, which they
have not the capacity or the hardihood to emulate.
The conduct of Sir Henry on this occasion is the
more astonishing, as from the classic elegance of his
style, we must consider him possessed of all those
just and noble sentiments, which the antients have
handed down to us. He has evinced such a turn
for observation, we are filled with wonder, that the
cautionary doctrine of his old friend Demosthenes
should have escaped his notice, as it certainly has,
else he would never have fished in troubled waters
in the manner he has done. To prevent a similar
misfortune to him in future, we shall remind him of
the passage - - - and thus bid him heartily farewel.
OvK CCTTt TTl/C/OWS €^€Ta<Tat Tt TTCTTpaKTat TOtS ttAAotS, 3.V fJLr] Trap' Vf
avrcov Trp&TOV vrrdp£r) ra Seovra.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE
COMPRISING
i, ALL THE LETTERS IN THE
CONTROVERSIAL PAMPHLETS:
2, The OMITTED and hitherto
UNPUBLISHED portions of those Letters gathered from
ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS:
3, SIR HENRY CLINTON'S
innumerable, important, inedited,
UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT NOTES
in the Controversial Pamphlets.
20Q
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE
COMPRISING: — i, ALL THE LETTERS IN THE
CONTROVERSIAL PAMPHLETS:
2, The OMITTED and hitherto
UNPUBLISHED portions of those Letters gathered from
ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS:
3, SIR HENRY CLINTON'S
innumerable, important, inedited,
UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT NOTES
in the Controversial Pamphlets.
==0@33QQQ»3==
i CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [i Ap'x] p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated Charles-town, May 17, 1780.
Your Lordship has already with you, (*in the field)
two thousand five hundred and forty two rank and
file ; but, if you have the least reason to suppose the
enemy likely to be in great number, you shall be
reinforced with the forty-second, the light infantry,
and any other corps you choose. As your move
is important, it must not be stinted. I will give
you all you wish of every sort. Let me bbut know
what it is as soon as possible. In the mean time,
I shall order the light infantry and forty-second
regiment to prepare; depending upon it, that as soon
as you can spare them, you will return them to me ;
for all operations to the Northward must be cramped
without them. If you choose to keep the seven
teenth1 dragoons,2 you are heartily welcome to them
during this move.
lc seventeenth underlined. 2c he had only one troop.
IB: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 17 May 1780, TARLBTON p 76.
Extract of a letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Earl
Cornwallis, dated Charles-town, May 17, 1780.
Same as No. I with variations slwwn in margin p 209.
-==02030^^- 27
210 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
2 COKNWALLIS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [2 Ap'at]p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp at Manigolds, May 18, 1780.
Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Webster arrived this
morning, and informed me of the message which you
sent by him, relative to reinforcing the corps under
my command. The service on which I am going, is
undoubtedly of the most important nature, and in
my opinion, without some success in the back country,
our success at Charles-town would but little promote
the real interests of Great-Britain. But at the same
time it is as necessary that your situation to the
Northward should be respectable. It would be with
great regret1 that I should see you leave behind any
part of that corps destined for your first embarkation.
The garrison, then, of Charles-town and Sullivan's-
island, will consist of three British regiments, — two
of them very weak, — and two Hessian, and one weak
Provincial, the latter of which, perhaps, will be sent
to Fort Moultrie. This garrison will have the charge
of two thousand five hundred prisoners. The corps
at present under my command is, in my opinion, fully
equal to the purpose intended by it, unless some
considerable reinforcement of Continentals should
come from the Northward. I have not yet heard
that fact ascertained, by any intelligence which has
come to my knowledge. If troops are on their march,
and not very near, your embarkation given out
publicly for the Chesapeak will probably stop them.
I think, therefore, Sir, if you please, with proper
deference and submission to your opinion, that the
business may be settled in the following manner : If
no certain intelligence arrives before you are ready
to sail, of a considerable corps of the Continental
troops being far advanced, that the disposition should
then remain the same which you mentioned when I
lc great regret underlined.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 211
had the honour of seeing you. If such intelligence
should arrive before that time, I should then wish
to be joined by five or six hundred men, either British
or Hessian, and submit it to your judgment on the
spot, from whence they could be best supplied. I
think, at all events, Lieutenant-colonel Balfour's
expedition should go on immediately, as the season
of the year makes it necessary that he should lose no
time. The more pains that can be taken to establish
the belief of your going to Virginia, the greater will
be the probability of stopping their reinforcement.
I am, &c. (Signed) COENWALLIS.
=020300203= •
3 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [4 Ap'x]p 126.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp at Manigolds, May 19, 1780.
Sir, I received, very early this morning, the
favour of your letter by Lieutenant-colonel Innes, to
which the letter I had the honour of sending to you
yesterday, by Major Dansey, will serve as an answer.
I can only add, that I have received no intelligence
whatever of reinforcements coming to the enemy from
the Northward, or of their being in force in this
province.
4 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [5 Ap'x]p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated Charles-town, May 20, 1780.
The light infantry and forty-second regiment1
march this evening to Goose-creek, and thence to
Monk's-corner, where they will remain at your
Lordship's call, in readiness either to join you, or to
return and embark, as shall have become expedient.
lc 7,000 men in arms.
212 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
5 CLINTON TO OORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [5 Atfx\p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated Charles-town, May 20, 1 780.
Every jealousy has been and will be given on my1
part, as a blind to our real intentions.
And now, my Lord, having entered into everything
that occurs to me as necessary to be thought on at
present, I heartily wish success to your important
move. I cannot doubt your having it, for as much
as I agree with you, that success at Charles-
town, unless followed in the back country, will
be of little avail ; so much, I am persuaded,
that the taking that place in the advantageous5
manner we have done it, insures the reduction of
this and the next province, if the temper of our
friends in those districts is such as it has always
been represented to us.
lc my underlined. 2c advantageous underlined.
6 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [6Ap'x]p 126.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp at Lenews, East Side of Santee, May 2 1 ,
1780.
aXhe march of the light infantry and forty-second
to Monk's-corner will be of use to those corps, and
will help to spread alarm through the country ; but
from what I hear, I do not believe that there can be
any necessity for detaining any part of the first
embarkation a moment after the ships are ready
b Bends for them.b
6B: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 21 May 1780, TARLETON^? 77.
Extract of a letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Lenew's, east side of Santee,
May 21, 1780.
T7ie same extract as No. 6.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 213
7 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [6 Ap'a:]p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated
Charles-Town, June i, 1780.
We shall probably leave this in a day or two. I
dare not be so sanguine as to suppose that your
business will be compleated in time for us to meet
before I sail ; and as our communication will become
precarious, I think it necessary to give your Lordship
outlines of my intentions, where your Lordship is
likely to bear a part. Your Lordship knows it was
part of my plan to have gone into Chesapeak-bay ;
but I am apprehensive the information which the
Admiral and I received, may make it necessary for
him to assemble his fleet at New- York, in which
case I shall go there likewise. When your Lord
ship has finished your campaign, you will be better
able to judge what is necessary to be done to secure
South and recover North Carolina. Perhaps it may
be necessary to send the gallies and some troops
into Cape Fear, to awe the lower counties, by far
the most hostile of that province, and to prevent
the conveyance of succours by inland navigation,
the only communication that will probably remain
with the northern parts of North Carolina and
Virginia.1 Should your Lordship so far succeed in
both provinces, as to be satisfied they are safe from
any attack during the approaching season, after
leaving a sufficient force in garrison, and such
other posts as you think necessary, and such troops
by way of moving corps as you shall think sufficient,
added to such provincial and militia corps as you
shall judge proper to raise; I should wish you to
assist in operations which will certainly be carried
on in the Chesapeak, as soon as we are relieved
from our apprehension of a superior fleet, and the
lc tis to be lamented his Lordp did not do so in 80 as he did in 81.
214 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
season will admit of it in that climate.2 This may
happen, perhaps, about September, or, if not, early in
October. I am clear this should not be attempted
without a great3 naval force4 ; I am not so clear
there should be a great land force. I therefore pro
pose that your Lordship, with what you can spare at
the time from your important post, (which is always
to be considered as the principal object)5'6'7 may
meet the Admiral, who will bring with him such
additional force as I can spare into the Chesapeak.
I should recommend in the first place, that one or
two armed ships, vigilants, should be prepared, and
thatj as many gallies as can go to sea may likewise
accompany you from hence. Our first object will
probably be the taking post at Norfolk or Suffolk,
or near the Hampton Road* and then proceeding up
the Chesapeak to Baltimore? I shall not presume
to say any thing by way10 of instruction11 to your Lord
ship,12 except in articles where you wish it; and if
you will do me the honour to inform me of your
wishes by the first safe opportunity, I shall pay
every attention to them upon that subject, or any
other. The Admiral assures me that there will be
ships enough left for convoy, ready by the 24th of
June. Your Lordship will be the best judge what
use can be made of them. Correspondence may, and
2a there is a clear implica- till he had recovered North
tion at least of the Danger I Carolina and we were sure of a
thinK operation is subject to in Fleet but never to risk C. Town,
Chesapeak during the unhealthy " that being the Principal ob-
season or without a certainty of ject."
a covering Fleet. 7bc which to object under-
3c great underlined. lined.
4a here again whereas when 8c my first object there
Lord Cornwallis forced it He Hampn Road in James river,
might have known there was a 9a, it may be observed this
doubt whether the Enemy's Fleet had ever been my Plan,
was not superior. 10c way underlined.
5a how could he in the face 1 lc instruction underlined.
of this order expose Charles Town. 12c L. C. had sent a list on
6c clearly express'g a wish which he wished instruction and
that he should not come to Chek I gave it.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 215
I hope will, be kept up by the cruizers, which the
Admiral and officer stationed here will have, but if
you find it necessary, you will be so good to press or
hire armed vessels.
0303);
8 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, I June 1780, Copy m 19/21.
OBSERVATIONS [8 Apcc] p 126, with Clintoris MS. Notes.
Endorsed N° 56. Copy of Instructions to Lieutenant
General Earl Cornwallis, dated Head Quarters,
Charles Town, ist June 1780. 56.
Instructions to Lieut. General Earl Cornwallis.
Head Quarters Charles Town ist June 1780.
My Lord, aUpon my departure from hence you will
be pleased to take bthe Command of the Troops men- bB<WM'**the
tioned in the inclosed Eeturn, and of all other Troops
now here, or that may arrive in my absence. Your
Lordship will make such change in the Position of
them, as you may judge most conducive to His
Majesty's Service for the defence of this important
Post, and its dependencies. At the same time it is
by no means my Intention to prevent your acting
offensively, in case an opportunity should offer con
sistent with the 'Security of this place,1 which is cJ*a™a*ics to
always2 to be regarded as da primary object.3'4 0^tlicst°
All Provision and Military Stores of eevery Denomi- e *readg any
nation now here, or which may hereafter arrive, are
submitted to your Lordship's orders, together with
every Power you may find necessary to enforce in
my absence, for the promotion of the King's Service/ fEends
To this end the Principals in Departments, and
the Inspector-General of the Provincial Forces who
Ibd security to place under" &c &c throwing down part of the
lined. works of this primary object He
2f always underlined. marched into N. Carolina &
3bd as to object underlined. afterwards into Virginia at the
4a on his Lordship's dis- Evident risk of this Capital as
obedience of this order I ground well as of all the Corps concerned
my charge, after losing his light in that move.
troops, distroying his waggons
216 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
has the charge of the Stores designed for their use,
are directed to give in returns to you of the States
of their several Departments, so far as respects their
Stores in possession, and of every other particular
relative to their Trusts, which can tend to your
fullest Information; Communicating to you at the
same time their general Instructions from me. I
am persuaded I need not recommend the utmost
(Economy in the Issue of Ordnance and other Stores,
and particularly of the Arms, of which there are
two thousand Stored in Boxes, and about Eight Hun
dred Serviceable, and as many more repairable which
were saved out of the Magazine that was blown up.
Your Situation in respect to the two Floridas and
Georgia will naturally engage you in a correspondence
with the Officers Commanding His Majesty's Troops in
each of those Ports. Wherefore it is my desire that
all Letters directed for me from thence should be
opened by your Lordship ; and that you may give such
orders thereupon as the Exigencies of the Service may
require, forwarding to me the Letters so received, and
a report of your orders in consequence, to which those
Officers will of course pay due obedience.
Mr. Newton, Assistant Deputy Paymaster General,
has orders to receive your Lordship's Warrant for Pay
or Subsistence in all cases as final ; and to furnish
Money upon your Warrants on the requisition of the
Publick Departments, or on account of Contingencies.
The Vouchers for the Disbursements of the first
of which, after being submitted to your Lordship's
Inspection, will of course remain with the Principals,
as they are amenable to Government. And your
Lordship will be pleased to transmit to me at the close
of every Quarter a list of the Warrants you have
issued for Extraordinaries within that Period.
A number of Blank Warrants for Presidents, and
Deputations for Judge Advocates, will be delivered
to you for holding General Courts Martial. And I
do hereby authorise and appoint you to approve of
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 217
the Sentences of such Courts in all Cases not Capital,
if in your Judgement the necessity of the case should
require it; excepting only the reduction of Commis
sioned Officers, unless under very singular Circum
stances.
Major Moncrief of the Corps of Engineers will com
municate to you the Orders he has received for the
Services required for that Department, which are how
ever Submitted to your Lordship's future Instructions.
It is my Intention that the Troopers belonging to
the Detachment of the 1 7th Light Dragoons now here,
shall follow me as soon as the Service will admit of
it, and proper vessels under a Convoy provided for
Transporting them. I am therefore to desire that
they may be held in readiness to Embark accordingly.
Having Judged it to be for the good of His
Majesty's Service that some fit and qualified persons
should be appointed to superintend the Militia in
the Southern Provinces, I have made choice of
Major Ferguson of the yist Regiment and Captain
Hanger of the Corps of Jagers, for that Service.
And I have accordingly given them Commissions
appointing Major Ferguson Inspector of Militia and
Major Commandant of the First Battalion of Militia to
be raised, and Captain Hanger Deputy Inspector with
the Brevet Rank of Major of Militia — with Orders to
Major Ferguson to lay his Instructions before your
Lordship, and pay all due obedience to such Regu
lations and Commands in everything respecting his
Department, as you may think proper to give him.
Whenever any Packet or advice Boat may arrive
here from Europe, your Lordship will be pleased to
order them to proceed to the Army ; having first
taken from the Mails all Letters for the Troops
under your Command. These Packets will return
with my Dispatches without touching at any Port
after the receipt of them. But care will always be
taken to give your Lordship the earliest account of
the Time intended for their Sailing, that your Dis-
28
218 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
patches and all Letters from hence may arrive in
time to go by them.
In order that I may be furnished with every In
formation necessary to be Communicated to the
Secretary of State for His Majesty's Information, or
to the other Departments of office, I am to request
you will from Time to Time communicate to me such
Intelligence as you may think Interesting to His
Majesty's Service ; that you will report the arrival
of all Troops and Stores from Europe ; and more
particularly I beg to be informed of every thing re
lative to your own immediate Situation with a full
assurance of a like Communication on my part.
I understand that Captn. Henry is to remain here
in the Command of the Naval Force. His zeal for
the Service will of course lead him to Co-operate
with your Lordship in every measure that can pro
mote it. Your applications to him for the Con
veyance of your Dispatches at any time will I am
persuaded be readily Complied with. I have the
honor to be &c. (Signed) H. CLINTON.
Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis.
SB: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [8 Ap'x] p 126.
With Clinton s Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Instructions to Lieutenant-General
Earl Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters, Charles-town,
June i, 1780.
This extract from No. 8 is shown in margin p 215.
9 CLINTON TO GERMAIN, 3 June 1780, LS PA 137/575.
OBSERVATIONS [23 A.p'ai\p 127.
Endorsed Charles Town S° Carolina 3d June 1780.
Sir Henry Clinton (N° 92) K/ 5th July. Entd
Head Quarters Charles Town
aN° 92 S° Carolina 3d June 1 780.
bMy Lord, Lord Eawdon, in Consequence of His
Majesty's Order signified to me by your Lordship has
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 219
resigned his Commission of Lieut1 Colonel in the Army
and made choice of that of Colonel of Provincials.
In Justice to his Lordship as well as to the King's
Service I must observe that the ExpencesLord Rawdon
has been at, and the distinguished Zeal he has shewn in
forming the Corps under his Command render him worthy
amuch Commendation, and make the Alternative put to
him a very mortifying One. Whilst on the other Hand
theVolunteers of Ireland, bereft of a chief of his Lord
ships Rank in Life, and Attention to the Service, would
probably havelostmuchin their Strength and Discipline.
Perhaps His Majesty may be graciously pleased to
consider his Lordship in the Light of an Officer, Avho
for the Good of his Service and the Preservation of a
Very serviceable Corps, to which he felt a kind of Je™VM
parental Attachment, has offered to relinquish Rank
essential to his future Hopes as a Soldier; and may in
Consequence restore to him his Brevet of Lieutenant
Colonel in the Army.
Ihave the Honorctobed with the greatest Respect Your
Lordship's Most obedient and Most humble Servant,
Right Honble Lord George Germain. H. CLINTON.
93 : CLINTON to GERMAIN, -\ June 1780, OBSERVATIONS [23 Af?x~\ p 1 2 7 .
Copy. — Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain,
dated Charles-Town, June 3, 1780.
Same as No. 9 with variations shown in margins pp 218-219.
9F: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 3 June 1780, Duplicate LS PA 631/135.
Endorsed Sir Henry Clinton 3 June N 92.
Same as No. 9 with variations shown in margins pp 218-219.
93 : CLINTON to GERMAIN, 3 June 1780, Triplicate LS PA 631/134.
Endorsed Sir Henry Clinton 3 June N 92.
Same as No. 9 with variations shown in margins pp 218-219.
9V: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 3 June 1780, Copy PA 308/13.
In margin Charlestown 3rd June 1780 Sir Henry
Clinton (N° 92) R/ 5th July.
Same as No. 9 with variations shown in margins pp 218-219.
220
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a B begins
Copy
bB reads
Intendant
(Mr. bimp-
sou)
c B reads
reluctantly
would
d B re/ids
condition
eB inserts of
f B reads
permissions
g B inserts
for England
hB reads
officers
i B omits
either
k B ends
With re
spect to the
province
of North
Carolina &c
&c I have&c.
8d. H. Clin
ton.
10 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [9 Ap'x]p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated aRomulus, June 8, 1780.
My Lord, I have the honour to transmit to your
Lordship the names of several inhabitants of the town,
who signed an address, the copy of which Brigadier-
general Paterson will send you. Inclosed is a copy
of the answer the Admiral proposed sending until
I represented to him that the subscribers were
unknown to us as to their several characters ; that the
bsuperintendant was not with us to be consulted ; that
the permitting exportation amounted to opening the
port, which we were not empowered to do ; and that
I Vould, reluctantly, at the hour of my departure,
change, within your Lordship's command, the Condi
tions of so many persons, without knowing their
merits. I also considered that property, in the late
troubles, might have been very unwarrantably
acquired, and that exportation realized it to the
present possessors.
Inconsequence, the inclosed answer was substituted,
bettering their present condition, and opening the pros
pect of trade, and ethe restoration of civil government.
To this, my Lord, I have to add, in the Admiral's
and my own name, that you are empowered still
farther to indulge men who exhibit proofs of a
sincere return to their duty, by admitting them to
any greater degree of liberty, to the fullest enjoyment
of their property, and to the permission, in particular
cases, of shipping itg, when the hofficer commanding
the King's ships shall furnish convoy ; all which
advantages I will ratify Either as Commissioner or
Commander-in-chief. kl
la besides these Powers I in with joint & separate powers,
stronger Terms recommended it but the Minister told me the
to the minister to join Lord King did not approve of it.
Cornwallis in the Commission
JOB: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 8 June 1780, Copy ECA. see ii. 336.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 221
ii CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 30 June 1780, ALS m 54/29.
OBSERVATIONS [n Ap\v] p 126, with Clintons MS. Notes.
Endorsed Duplicate. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton K.B. dated June 3Oth 1780. received by Lieut.
Gordon, of the i6th Foot, Aug. ist No. 66.
Duplicate Charlestown, June 3Oth 1780.
Sir, aln my letter from Carnden of the 2d instant,
I had the honour to inform you that I was employ'd
in regulating the Militia & establishing some kind
of government in this Province ; and I likewise
mentioned the state, & the steps that I had taken
relative to our friends in North Carolina. I will
first proceed with the affairs of S. Carolina — As the
different Districts submitted, I, with all the dispatch
in my power, formed them into Militia & appointed
Field Officers according to the old divisions of the
Province ; I invested these Field Officers with civil
as well as Military power, as the most effectual
means of preserving order & re-establishing the
King's authority in this Country, I divided the
Militia into two classes, the first to consist of men
above 40, & of certain property, family or service,
this Class to be depended upon for the preservation
of order in their respective districts & to do the
Patrole Duty, but never to be call'd out except in
case of an insurrection or an actual invasion of the
Province ; The second Class composed of the
younger men not only to assist in the home duties,
but liable to be call'd out for six of each twelve
months to serve in either of the Carolina's or
Georgia ; Promising however to call upon this
Class in such proportions as to occasion the least
distress possible to the Country. This Militia, both
Officers & Soldiers, is composed of Men either of
undoubted attachment to the cause of Great Britain ;
or whose behaviour has always been moderate ; And
the Field Officers of the Rebel Militia, Members of
their Council, Assembly Men, & acting Magistrates
were ordered to go on their Paroles to the Islands on
222
CLINTON-COENWALU8 CONTROVERSY
a F continues
from p 223
/ 14 1 have
agreed
8 I have
readily
agreed
underlined
b P omits a
c F3VE stop
the Coast between Charlestown & Beaufort, to re
main there untill their Conduct & Character could
be inquired into, & that their Presence in the
Country might not awe those that were inclined to
return to their duty, & our friends from assuming
the Authority necessary to give Vigour to our
Government. The rest of those that were notoriously
disaffected, I ordered to be disarmed & to remain at
Home on their parole, but subject in lieu of personal
services to furnish moderate contributions of pro
visions, waggons, horses &c, towards carrying on the
War. About this time al readily agreed to a proposal
made by ba Mr. Harrison to raise a Provincial Corps
of 500 Men with the Hank of Major, to be composed
of the Natives of the Country between the Pedee &
Wateree, and in which it is at present extremely
probable that He will succeed.0
I had advanced thus far when I was met on the
I Ith of this month by two Gentlemen, one of whom had
been in an high station & both principally concerned
in the Rebellion, who said they were come to sur
render upon the Proclamation of the Commissioners
of the Ist of June. However extraordinary it might
appear to them, I was forced to acknowledge that no
Proclamation of that date had been communicated to
me, & that consequently I could not acquiesce in
the terms of their proffer'd submission : and indeed
when I saw that Proclamation as well as your Ex
cellency's of the third of June, which was soon after
transmitted to me, I found that those Gentlemen had
overstrained the meaning of the first, For upon con
sidering both I thought myself at liberty to persevere
in sending on Parole to the Islands the Field Officers
of Militia, the members of Council, Assembly Men,
Acting Magistrates &c, the first as falling under the
exception of the Military line in your Excellency's
Proclamation, & the remainder as under the de
scription of those polluted with the blood of their
fellow subjects, excepted by the Proclamation of the
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 223
Commissioners. aThis measure appeared absolutely
necessary for the security of the Province, especially
as our hold is much loosen'd of a considerable number
of People, who being notoriously disaffected, cannot
with prudence be trusted with arms, & admitted
into the Militia,b but are disengaged from their b8VE*to/>
Paroles by the Proclamation of the third instant.
"The submission of Gen1 Williamson at Ninety-Six,
whose Capitulation I inclose with Cap* Paris's Letter,
& the dispersion of a Party of Rebels, who had
assembled at an Iron work on the North West border
of the Province, by a detachment of Dragoons &
Militia from Lfc Col. Turnbull, put an end to all resist
ance in South Carolina.dl After having made the
following disposition of the troops, I arrived in Town
on the 25th. Major McArthur with the 7ist Reg* a
Troop of Dragoons & a six pounder on the Cheraw
"Hill, with orders to cover the raising of Majr
Harrison's Corps, & to establish the Militia in the
districts fon the Pedee ; The remainder of Lfc Col. fofSYE reild
Webster's Brigade, & the Provincials that march'd
with me & Brown's Corps remain at Camden, and
L* Col. Turnbull's with some Cavalry at Rocky Mount ;
The whole under the command of Lord Rawdon. L*
Col. Balfour's detachment is dispersed from the forks
of Santee, by the Congarees to Ninety-Six ; whilst He,
& L* Col. Innes, & Majr Graham are giving orders
for the Militia of those districts. I have ordered,
Major Ferguson to visit every district in the Province,
as fast as they get the Militia establish'd, to procure
lists of each, & to see that my orders are carried
into execution/ I apprehend that his Commission of
Major Commandant of a Regiment of Militia can only
take place in case a part of the 2d Class should be calTd
out for service, the home duty being more that of a
Justice of Peace than of a Soldier. hl have given to
the Militia Regt8 temporary Commissions, which per
haps your Excellency will find more convenient to
la a Prooff that the whole Province had submitted.
224 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
confirm by a line in your next dispatch, than to
take the trouble of signing, as the number for the
whole Province will amount to some hundreds. I
have had some conversations with B. Gen1 Paterson
& Mr. Simpson, & have made a little Progress in
the arrangement of this Place.
In regard to North Carolina — al have establish'd
n <u new ^ faQ most satisfactory correspondence, & have seen
several people of credit & undoubted fidelity from
Hhat Province ; They all agree in Assurances of the
good disposition of a considerable Body of the in
habitants, & of the impossibility of subsisting a
Body of Troops in that Country till the Harvest is
over. This reason, the Heat of the Summer, & the
unsettled state of South Carolina, all concurr'd to
convince me of the necessity of Postponing offensive
operations on that side untill the latter end of August
or beginning of September, and in consequence I sent
Emissaries to the leading Persons amongst our friends,
recommending in the strongest terms that they should
attend to their harvest, prepare provisions, & remain
quiet untill the King's Troops were ready to enter
the Province ; Notwithstanding these precautions I
am sorry to say that a considerable number of loyal
Inhabitants of Tryon County, encouraged & headed
by a Col. Moore,d whom I know nothing of, & ex
cited by the sanguine emissaries of the very sanguine
*F continues and imprudent fr Col. Hamilton, erose on the i8th
Instant without order or caution, & were in a few
days defeated by Gen1 Rutherford with some loss.f
g* continues I still hope this unlucky business will not materially
hundred0116 affect the general Plan, or occasion any commotions
on the frontiers of this Province. «The force of the
Enemy in North Carolina consists of about hiooo
Militia1 at Cross-Creek under Gen1 Caswall ; 4 or
500 Militia, kunder General Rutherford, at or near
m*B read* Salisbury,1 and 300 Virginians in that neighbourhood
nEp omits under mCol. Porterfield. nMonsr Treville returned
Monsr. Tre- ^^ information that He saw 2000 Maryland and
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 225
Delaware troops at Hilsborough under Majr Gen1
de Kalbe, other accounts ahave corresponded with
his, but I have since heard that the greatest part
of the last have returned to Virginia.
After having thus fully stated the present situation
of the two Carolinas, I shall now take the liberty of
giving my opinion with respect to the Practicability
and the probable effect of further operations in this
quarter, and my own intentions, if not otherways
directed by your Excellency. bl think, that with the
force at present under my command (except there
should be a considerable "Foreign2 interference) I can iSiga**
leave South Carolina in security, & march about the
beginning of September with a body of Troops into
the back part of North Carolina, with the greatest
probability of reducing that Province to its duty;
And if this be accomplished, I am of opinion, that
(besides the advantage of possessing so valuable a
Province) it would prove an effectual Barrier for S.
Carolina & Georgia, and could be kept, with the
assistance of our friends there, by as few Troops as
would be wanted on the Borders of this Province, if
N. Carolina should remain in the hands of our
Enemies : Consequently if your Excellency should
continue to think it expedient to employ part of the
Troops at present in this Province, in operations in
the Chesapeak, there will be as many to spare, as
if we did not possess N. Carolina. If I am not
honour'd with different directions from your Excel
lency before that time, I shall take my measures for
beginning the execution of the above Plan about the
latter end of August or beginning of September, &
shall apply to the Officer Commanding His Majesty's
Ships for some Co-operation, by Cape Fear, which at
present would be burdensome to the Navy, & not of
much importance to the service/3
I have seen a letter from Sl Augustine which men-
2a foreign underlined. season I should have preferred
3a there we differ, at that operation on the Sea Coast.
29
226 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
tions that two Officers had arrived there from Pensa-
cola, who reported that Don Galvez was at Mobile
when they came away, & short of Provisions, & that
the Mentor had taken three Spanish Victuallers on
their passage from the Havannah to Mobile, &
brought them into Pensacola.
I shall immediately, in compliance with the
directions contained in your letter of the 8th of
June, order proper people to examine the receipts
granted for Cattle previous to the taking of Charles-
town, & to certify such as they think ought to
be paid ; a great number of Claims are likewise
made for provisions deliver'd to the troops through
the Commissary of Captures, and for which no receipts
were given ; These Claims shall undergo the same ex
amination as the receipts, & shall depend upon similar
certificates; you will be pleased to direct from what
fund the whole sum when ascertained is to be paid.
I opened the inclosed letter from Governor Tonyn,
but as the point appears to me to be out of the
common line of Indian business, and the service
suffers no inconvenience from a little delay, I herewith
send Mr. Moore's letter to Gen1. Paterson on the sub
ject, and have likewise directed Mr. Moore to transmit
his other papers to N. York for your Excellency's
determination. Mr. Graham I/ Governor of Georgia
has presented an account of money advanced to
Refugees, to which is added a charge of twenty shil
lings per diem to the 24th of June as Inspector of
Refugees in Georgia, But as He informs me that his
Commission for that office is not sign'd, I beg to know
your pleasure whether this account is to be allow'd.
I must likewise beg to know whether the Pay is to be
continued to the Commissary's of Captures, & if it
is to what fund it is to be charged ; or if your inten
tion is that it should cease whilst the Troops are inac
tive, whether you wish that when the Troops take the
Field, the office should be revived in the Persons of
the present Commissaries.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 227
Judge Pendleton who, in his Judicial character,
committed a number of barbarous Murders on the
Persons of His Majesty's loyal subjects, has escaped
from his Parole, and I find by Returns which I call'd for,
that not less than 500 Continental Prisoners have made
their escape since the Town was taken. I have now
taken measures which I hope will enable us to keep
those that remain untill an exchange can take Place.
B. Gen1 Paterson shewed me a letter which He
received from Majr Andre relative to the Gen1 Court
Martial left with him, in which He expressed your
desire that I should give my opinion of the proper
objects of mercy or severity, I must lament the fate of
those unhappy people who have been, & must re
main so long confined, but as all those under sentence
of death are convicted of desertion & carrying arms
against their country, I cannot bring myself to say
that they are proper objects of mercy.
The Morning that I left Camden I had the honour to
receive your Excellency's Dispatches & Instructions that
had been left in charge of B. Gen1 Paterson, your Ex
cellency may depend on my utmost attention to them,
and on my zeal in fulfilling your wishes in every re
spect. The Detachment of the 1 7th Dragoons will sail
for New York with the first Convoy, which Cap1 Henry
informs me will be in a week or ten days, and now I
think having compleatly tired both your Excellency &
myself I shall only add that I have the honour to be,
Your most obed1 & most Humble Servant CORNWALLIS.
P.S. The letters & papers said to be inclosed, were
sent with the ist copy, & unluckily it was omitted to
take copies of them.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, K' B. &c &c &c.
i IB: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [11 Apx] p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Charles-town, June 30, 1780.
This is two parts of No. n as shown in margins pp 223-225.
228 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
I IF: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 30 June 1780, TARLETONjp 1 1 7.
Extract of a letter from Lieutenant-general Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Charles town,
South Carolina, June 30, 1 780.
This is four parts of No. n as shoiun in margins pp 222-224.
us: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 30 June 1780, Extract PA 138/213.
Endorsed South Carolina 3Oth June 1780 Lieut. Gen1
Earl Cornwallis to Sir H> Clinton. E/ Sepr 25,
1780. By Brigr Gen1 Dalrymple. this Letter,
together with 3 others, annexed, 2 of which are
copies, & one an Extract, arrived at New York by
Express, after Sir Henry Clinton's Dispatches were
closed ; — also endorsed Extracts of a letter from L*
Gen1 Earl Cornwallis to General Sir Henry Clinton
dated Charles Town 3Oth June 1780 (19).
Begins Extracts of a Letter from Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis dated Charles Town S° Carolina 30th
June 1780.
This is five parts of No. n as shown in margins pp 221-225.
I IV: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 30 June 1780, Extract SACKVILLE 6/31.
Endorsed Extracts of a Letter from Lieut General
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton dated Charles
Town South Carolina, 3Oth June 1780.
Begins Copy. Extracts of a Letter from Lieut.
General Earl Cornwallis dated Charles Town South
Carolina 3<Dth June 1780.
This is Jive parts of No. n as shown in margins pp 221-225.
HE: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 30 June 1780, Extract HL No 19.
Laid on the table of the Bouse of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extracts of Letters from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir H^ Clinton, dated Charles Town 3Oth June
1780. E/ By B Gen1 Dalrymple from Sir H?
Clinton 25th Septr 1780. N° 19.
Begins Extracts of a Letter from Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis dated Charles Town South Carolina
3<Dth June 1780.
This is five parts of No. 1 1 as shoivn in margins pp 221-225.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 229
12 GERMAIN TO CLINTON, 5 July 1780, LS RI 20/81.
OBSERVATIONS [24 Ap*oc\ p 127, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Duplicate. N° 64. Lord Geo: Germain to
Sir H. Clinton, K.B. 5th July 1780 recd the 12th Octor
1780 ?• the Swift Packet. 122.
Duplicate a(N°. 64.) bWhitehall 5th July 1780.
Sir, "After I had closed my Letters to You of
Yesterday's date I received Your Dispatches num
bered 92, 93, 94 and 95, and One marked Separate of
the Ist dJune, by Lieutenant Colonel Bruce, and irn-
mediately laid them before The King.
The Accounts they contain of the happy Conse
quences of Your Success, though not unexpected,
gave His Majesty great Satisfaction, and the very
judicious and well timed Publications You issued
after the Surrender of Charles Town, were so well
calculated to excite the Zeal, and give Confidence to
His Majesty's faithful Subjects, and at the same
time hold out the Terrors of due Chastisement to all
such as should persist in their Revolt, that they could
not fail of producing the Effects You expected from
them, and of being approved by The King.
It is a great Pleasure to me to have another
Occasion of obeying The King's Commands by de
siring You to convey to Major Tarleton His Majesty's
Approbation of His Conduct, and of the behaviour
of the Corps he commanded in the Affair eat Wacsaw.
The Celerity of the March, and the Vigor of the
Attack, do them equal Honor, and merited the com
plete Victory with which they were crowned/
gYou will find by my Separate Letter of Yesterday,
that it is not His Majesty's Intention to confine You to
so strict an observance of the general Rule of no
Officers being permitted to hold Commissions in a
Regular and Provincial Corps at the same time, as to
prevent You from deviating from it in extraordinary
Cases, and that Your having done so in favor of Majors
Simcoe and Tarleton was approved by His Majesty.
I also1 informed You2'3 that the general Rule was
lc also underlined. 2c possitively no. 3c you underlined.
230 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
not meant to affect the Brevet Rank of Officers ; it is
therefore, a great Concern to me to find Lord Eawdon
had resigned his Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the
Army, when he made his Option of Colonel of the
»v«eio f Provincials. aThe King is fully sensible of His Lord
ship's Merit, and of the great advantage which the
Corps under his Command has derived from His
Lordship's Attention to it, and is well pleased His
Lordship has chosen to continue at the head of it ; but
His Majesty commands me to signify to You His Royal
Pleasure that You do immediately acquaint His Lord
ship that he still retains his Rank of Lieutenant
b Bends Colonel in the Army.b I am,c Sir,dYour most obedient
humble Servant, GEO : GERMAIN.
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B.
Geo. Ger- ^^
main.
1 2B : GERMAIN to CLINTON, 5 July 1 7 80, OBSERVATIONS [24Ap'x']p 127.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Lord G. Germain to Sir H. Clinton,
dated Whitehall, July 5, 1780.
This extract from No. 12 is shown in margins pp 229-230.
I2F: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 5 July 1780, Draft PA 137/567.
Endorsed Draft to Sir Henry Clinton K.B. 5th July
1780. (NO 64) (15)-
Same as No. 12 with variations shoivn in margins pp 229-230.
I2S: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 5 July 1780, Copy PA 432/136.
In margin Sir Henry Clinton K.B. (N° 64.)
Same as No. 12 with variations shown in margins pp 229-230.
I2V: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 5 July 1780, Copy SACKVILLE 9/154.
In margin Sir Henry Clinton K.B (N° 64)
Same as No. 12 with variations shown in margins pp 229-230.
I2E: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 5 July 1780, Extract HL No 15.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George Ger
main to Sir H^ Clinton, dated 5th July, 1780. N° 15.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain
to Sir Henry Clinton KB dated Whitehall 5th July 1 780.
This extract from No. 12 is shown in margin p 229.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 231
13 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 14 July 1780, LS KI 19/6.
OBSERVATIONS [13 Ap'x] p 126.
Endorsed N° 71 Duplicate. Lord Cornwallis to Sir
H. Clinton K.B. 1 4th July 1780/71.
"Duplicate Charlestown 14 July 1780.
Sir, bAbout the time that the Beaumont sailed with
my last letters, Lieu* Gordon of the 1 6th Reg* arrived
with Dispatches from General Campbell at Pensacola,
which he will have the honour of delivering to Your
Excellency. I was extremely sorry to learn, that the
State of the Place, & that of their Enemies in the
Neighbourhood of it, "were very different from what I
had heard a few days before, through the Channel of
a private Letter from Sfc Augustine: And I am the
more concerned, as the relative Situation of this
Place, the State of dthe Naval Affairs here, & the
present condition of the province, render it utterly
impossible for me to give Assistance. For to attempt
it with any degree of prudence, and to do it effectually,
a Convoy would be wranted, of more considerable
Force than could be given from hence, and a greater
detachment of Troops than could be spared, consis
tent with the Security of this important Province,
and indeed I think it right to take this opportunity
of remarking to Your Excellency, that eif even Pensa
cola should escape the present danger, the Navigation
of a Fleet of Transports from North America, must
always be tedious and difficult, and much exposed to
the Cruisers from Sl Domingo, I should therefore be
of opinion, that it would be fortunate, if His Majesty's
Ministers would think proper, to annex it to the
Jamaica Command, to which it is contiguous, & from
which it might be speedily supported/ tv stops
In case of a Misfortune at Pensacola, S* Augustine
becomes a Frontier in this Quarter, & I think I shall
direct Lieu* Colonel Clarke to take the Command
there, with the Eegiment of Wissenbach, and some
Provincials, & remove the detachments of the 6oth
(Upon which, from their composition there can be no
a S reads
any
232 CL1NTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
great dependence) to Savannah, to assist in the interior
business of the province, For with East Florida in our
possession, on one Side, & South Carolina on the
other, it is not probable that Georgia can be an
object to aa foreign Enemy.
bSince my Arrival at this place, I have been em
ployed in the internal Regulations of the Province, &
settling the Militia of the lower districts, both of
wnich are in "forwardness, & I have kept up a dcon-
stant correspondence with the Frontiers, & the ein-
terior Parts of North Carolina, where the Aspect of
Affairs is not so peaceable as when I wrote last.
Majr General de Kalbe is certainly at Hilsborough
with 2000 continental Troops, including some Cavalry,
& said to be preparing to advance to Salisbury, Por-
terfield is in the Neighbourhood of Salisbury with
300 Virginians, & Rutherford with some Militia with
him ; Caswall with 1 500 Militia is march'd from
IF a*.* the Cross Creek to fthe Deep River, between Hilsborough
& Salisbury, and Sumpter with about the same
Number of Militia, is advanced as far as the Catawba
Settlement. Lord Rawdon reports to me that many
of the disaffected South Carolinians from the Wax-
jiaw? an(j g^g Other Settlements on the Frontier,
wnom ne tnac[ put On parole, have availed themselves
of the general Release of the 2Oth of June, & have
joined General Sumpter.
Accounts from Virginia, thro' different Channels,
say, that two Thousand five hundred of their Militia
had followed de Kalbe, that the Assembly had voted
five thousand men, to be immediately drafted, to
serve as a Corps of Observation, & had vested their
Governor with absolute power during their Recess.
The Government of North Carolina is likewise making
great exertions to raise Troops, & persecuting our
Friends in the most cruel manner, in consequence of
which, Colonel Bryan, altho' he had promised to wait
for my orders, lost all patience, & rose with about
800 men on the Yadkin, and by a difficult & dan-
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 233
gerous March joined Major Mc Arthur on the Borders
of Anson County, about two thirds only of his People
were armed, & those I believe but indifferently.
The Effects of the exertions, which the Enemy are
making in those two Provinces, will I make no doubt
be exagerated to us :a But upon the whole there is &Vst°Ps
every reason to believe, that their Plan is not only to
defend North Carolina, but to commence offensive
Operations immediately ; which reduces me to the
Necessity, if I wanted the inclination, of following the
Plan which I had the Honour of transmitting to Your
Excellency in my Letter of the 3<Dth bJune, as the most
effectual means of keeping up the Spirits of our Friends
£ securing this Province. To enable me to begin/ I
am first using every possible dispatch in transporting first»I
to Camden, Bum, Salt, Regimental Stores, Arms &
Ammunition, which on Account of the distance, &
excessive heat of the Season, is a work of infinite
Labour, & requires ea considerable time. In the
mean while, the measures fthat I have directed Lord
llawdon to take, will I trust put it out of the power
of the Enemy to strike a blow at any of our Detach
ments, or to make any considerable Inroads into this
Province. gl have the Satisfaction to assure Your
Excellency, that the Numbers & Disposition of our
Militia equal my most sanguine expectations.1 But ^Sex-
still I must confess, that their want of Subordination Pectati°n
£ Confidence in themselves, will make a consider
able regular Force always necessary for the defence
of the province, untill North Carolina is perfectly
reduced. It will be needless to attempt to take any
considerable Number of the South Carolina Militia
with us, when we advance, they can only be looked
upon as light Troops, £ we shall find Friends enough
in the next Province of the same Quality £ we must
not undertake to supply too many useless Mouths. k
When the Troops march into North Carolina, it
will be absolutely necessary to get supplies up some
of the principal Eivers of that Province. I there-
30
a 8V in fiert
to procure
234 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
fore thought it proper to apply to Captain Henry
to detain the Sandwich, which will be more
usefull to us than any Frigate in the Service, &
could not, in my opinion, be much wanted at New
York, where the Admiral will have it in his power to
fit up so many Vessels of the same kind ; Captain
Henry has consented, & I hope,a with her Assistance
pr<L0rT* to and the Galleys, Ho procure a tolerable water com
munication pretty high up the Country : The bringing
the troops down towards the Coast, before the Month
of November, would be leading them to certain de
struction.
CF continues CJ have agreed to the proposal of Mr Cunningham
dFomrtsthe in dthe Ninety Six District, to raise a Corps on the
emends footing of Major Harrison's,6 which I believe will be
the last Provincial Corps that I shall attempt. I
have rejected all Plans for raising Cavalry, except the
Augmentation of the Legion to seventy men a troop. f
I inclose a Duplicate of a Letter from Governor
Tonyn, with some Accounts, the former ones were I
believe forwarded to You by Brigr General Pater son.
It gave me great pleasure to hear last night by a
Vessel from New York of Your Excellency's safe
Arrival.
I have the honour to beg Your most Obedient &
r"nrnwa.lli<? 1 i i n
most humble Servant
His Excellency CORNWALLIS
Sir Henry Clinton K.B. &c &c &c
136: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 1 4 July, OBSERVATIONS [13 Ap 'x]p 126.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Charles-town, July, 14, 1780.
This extract from No. 13 is shown in mar gin p 233.
I3F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 14 July 1780, TARLETON^ 118.
Extract of a letter from Lieutenant-general Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Charles town,
July 14, 1780.
This is three parts of No. 13 as shown in margins pp 232-234.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 235
I3S: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 14 July I 780, Copy PA 138/22!.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir H: Clinton K B. dated Charlestown July 14*
1780. received the Ist August. R/from Sir H. Clin
ton Sepr 25 1780 By Brigr Gen1 Dalrymple 2. 20.
Same as No. 13 with variations shown in margins pp 231-234.
137: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 14 July 1780, Copy HL No 20.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir H> Clinton dated Charles Town 1 4th July 1780.
E/ By Gen1 Dalrymple from Sir H/ Clinton 25
Septr 1780 N° 20.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir
H> Clinton KB, dated Charlestown 14th July 1780.
This is two parts of No. 13 as shown in margins pp 231-234.
14 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 6 August 1780, LS BI 19/29.
OBSERVATIONS [14 Ap\v]p 126, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Duplicate (76) E. Earl Cornwallis to Sir
H. Clinton K.B August 6th 1780.
Duplicate Charles town Augst 6th 1780
aSir. bl received by Major England your letters of
the 14th & i5th of July, and am very glad to find by
the latter that you do not place much dependance on
receiving Troops from hence. °My letter of the 14th,
by the Halifax, will have convinced you of the
impossibility of weakening the force in this Province;
and every thing which has happened, since that time,
tends more strongly to confirm it. dThe general State
of things in the two Provinces of N° & b° Carolina is
not very materially altered, since my Letters of the
14th & 15th of last Month were written: Frequent
skirmishes, with various Success have happened in
the Country between the Catawba River & Broad
River, The Militia6 about Tiger & Ennoree rivers
was iormed by us under fa Colonel Floyd, Col. Neale
the Rebel Colonel, had Fled, but L* Col. Lisle who
had been Paroled to the Islands, exchanged on his
236 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
arrival in Charlestown his Parole for a Certificate of
his being a good Subject,1 returned to the Country
and carried off the whole Battalion to join General
Sumpter at Catawba. We have not however on the
whole lost ground in that part of the Country,
Turnbull was Attacked at Rocky Mount by Sumpter
with about 1200 men, Militia & Refugees from this
Province, whom he repulsed with great loss, we had on
our Paft an Officer killed & one wounded a& about
^en or twelve men killed & wounded, Col. Turnbull's
conduct was very meritorious. The affair of Cap*
Huck turned out of less consequence than it ap
peared at first, the Captain and three men of the
Legion were killed, and Seven men of the New York
yoiunteers taken."
^Q tne Eastern part of the Province,6 we have
been more unfortunate ;d Major McArthur seeing the
great importance of the Post at eCheraw Hill, and
finding himself perfectly secure from any Attack of
the Enemy desired to continue there longer than it
was intended he should, when I had the honour of
writing to you on the 15th, at last however the 7ist
Regiment grew so exceedingly Sickly that He found
it absolutely necessary to move and Marched on the
24th, to the East Branch of Tenches Creek ; Gates,
lldreal who ghas taken the command of de Kalb's Corps,
was still on Deep River, and Rutherford no farther
advanced than Rocky River, Pedee ; Knowing of no
Enemy within many Miles he ventured to send about
one hundred Sick in Boats down the Pedee to George
town.h By this time the reports industriously propa
gated in this Province of a large Army coming from
the Northward had very much intimidated our friends,
encouraged our enemies, and determined the waver
ing against us, to which our not advancing and acting
offensively likewise contributed;1 Col. Mills who
commanded the Militia of the Cheraw District, tho'
a very good Man, had not complied with my instruc-
lc subject underlined.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 237
tions in forming his Corps; but had placed more
faith in Oaths and professions, and attended less to
the former conduct of those av\hom he admitted. The
instant bthat this Militia found that McArthur had
left his Post, & were assured that Gates would come thai0""*
there the next day, they seized their own Officers,
and ca hundred Sick, & carried them all prisoners JtfeSVread
into North Carolina ; Col. Mills with difficulty made
his escape to George town/ where I was much alarmed
for Wemys whose party was much weakened by sick
ness ; The whole Country between Pedee £ Santee
has ever since been in an absolute State of Rebellion ;2
every friend of Government has been carried off, and
his Plantation destroyed; & detachments of the
enemy have appeared on the Santee, and threatened
our Stores, & Convoys on that river. I have not
heard, that they have as yet made any attempt on
them, & I hope by this time fthat the steps I have
taken will secure them. This unfortunate business
if it should have no worse consequences, will shake
the confidence of our friends in this Province, &
make our situation very uneasy until we can advanced &BSVnmon
hThe Wheat harvest in North Carolina is now over: ^Fcontl'iues
but the weather is still excessively hot, and notwith
standing our utmost exertions, a great part of the
Rum, Salt, Clothing and necessaries for the Soldiers ;
and the Arms for the Provincials, & Amunition for
the Troops, are not Very far advanced on their way to
Camden ; However if no material interruption hap
pens this business will be nearly accomplished in a
fortnight or three Weeks.k It may be doubted by
some whether the Invasion of North Carolina may be
a prudent measure,3 but I am convinced it is a neces-
2a They knew what L. Corn- 3a at that time certainly
walk's was at that time ignorant not, at least till a diversion
of. They knew Gates was should be made in the Chesapeak
moving into the Carolinas & which tho it had been my inten-
that a French armament had tion I could not attempt till the
arrived at R. Island. Admiral would afford naval assis
tance.
i B omits
very
*/*./*
238 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
sary one ; and that if we do not Attack that Province,
we must give up both South Carolina, and Georgia,
a F «mt.m<e. £ retire within the Walls of Charles town. a6ur
poor""** assurances of Attachment from our bpoor distressed
Friends in North Carolina, are as strong as ever, and
the patience & fortitude with which those unhappy
People bear the most oppressive and cruel Tyranny
tnat ever was exercised over any Country, "deserves
our greatest admiration:11 The Highlanders have
offered to form a Regiment as soon as we enter the
Country, and have desired that Governor Martin may
be their Chief ; I have consented, with the rank of
Lieu1 Colonel Commandant, the Men, they assure us,
esrunson are aiready engaged.6
fAn early diversion in my favour in Chesapeak Bay,
will be of the greatest, and most important advantage
to my operations, I most earnestly hope that the Ad-
miral will be able to spare a Convoy for that purposed
As Major Graham's Corps grew very weak, & was
very unequally composed, some of the Men of the
1 6th, being totally unfit for Light Infantry ; and as
the Major himself is not in a good state of Health, I
thought it best to break up that Corps ; The 7ist I
shall send to their Regiment, except as many as will
compleat those already with Tarleton to a Troop of
70 ; The Provincials will likewise join their respec
tive Corps, & the detachment of the i6th, consisting
of about 60 men will be attached to the Field
Artillery, except 17, or 18, who are represented to
me to be active young men, and whom I intend at
present to lend to Tarleton.
^1 propose taking the following Corps with me into
North Carolina, 23d, 33d, 63d, 7ist, Volunteers of
Ireland, Hamiltons, Harrison's new raised, Legion
Cavalry & Infantry, '& North Carolina Refugees : I
intend to leave on the Frontiers from Pedee to
Waxhaw, to awe the disaffected, who I am sorry to
say are still very numerous in that Country, & to
iwumfciea prevent any Insurrections in our rear, The N York
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 239
Volunteers & Brown's Corps, & some of the Militia
of the Camden district who are commanded by Col.
Rugeley, a very active & spirited man : I shall place
Ferguson's Corps & some Militia of the Ninety six
district, which Col. Balfour assures me, are got into
very tolerable order, owing to the great assiduity of
Ferguson, on the borders of Tryon County, with
directions for him to advance with a part of them,
into the Mountains and secure the left of our M arch :
Lieu1 Colonel Cruger who Commands at Ninety six
will have his own Corps, Innes's, & the remainder of
the Militia of that district, to preserve that Frontier,
which requires great attention, & where there are
many disaffected, & many constantly in Arms ; Allen's
Corps, and for a time, the Florida Rangers, are
stationed at Augusta, under the Command of Lieu*
Colonel Allen,a He being by all Accounts a much
properer Man than Col. Brown to trust with Com
mand ; besides the latter will have sufficient business
in the Indian department.
Poor Hanger is always willing to do his best ; but
he did not think that he should be very useful, in
collecting the lists, fixing the Officers, & establishing
the Militia in the different districts ; and as He found
that the Attempt would take him up many Months, &
would be entirely a Civil employment He beg'd that
he might act as a Volunteer Major of Tarle ton's Cavalry,
as Tarleton seemed to wish it very much, I have given
my consent until your pleasure shall be known.
Major Stuart is rather inconveniently placed with
the 63d Regiment, and as He and Major Wemys are
not on very good terms, & the Regiment being joined
with other Troops, would occasion a constant change
of command from one to the other, which would be
prejudicial to the Regiment and the Service, I have
given him leave to go to New York, where he tells
me he was appointed to remain as Major of Brigade
before the sailing of the Expedition. Major Graham
has no farther duty to detain him here, his Corps
240 CLIXTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
being dissolved; I beg leave to assure Your Ex
cellency, that He has served with Zeal and Attention.
I forgot apologize You for letting Lieu1 Colonel
McDonald go to New York to Solicit leave to go
home, his business in Europe seemed pressing and I did
not see any inconvenience in the Command's devolving
upon Major Me Arthur who is an excellent Officer.
Lieu* Colonel Balfour is arrived, and I have great
reason to think that He will render very essential
Services at this place : It will be a great convenience
to us, if Your Excellency will please to Authorize
the Paymaster General to grant Money from the
Warrant of the Commandant at Charles town for the
Subsistance of the Garrison &c, as I may probably be
at a very considerable distance ; a Deputy Pay
master will for the same reason be much wanted for
the Troops in the Field.
As I have the strongest assurances that Your
Excellency intended that Lieu* Colonels Webster &
Clarke should receive Pay & forage Money as
Brigadier Generals, I shall take it upon me to give it
to them ; It is absolutely necessary that Balfour
should have it, or he would be ruined by being Com
mandant of Charlestown ; I likewise think it highly
proper, that, as Lord Kawdon is acting with & Com
manding all these Officers, He should be offered the
same allowance. I have appointed Lieu* Colonel
Clarke to Command in East Florida as well as Georgia,
& He is gone with Moncrief to inspect the condition
of S* Augustine.
* Economies al have already explained the measures I had taken
for establishing a Government and securing this
Country by means of a Militia ; I have likewise paid
as much attention as possible to the Civil and Com
mercial matters ; The principal objects of my atten
tion will appear in the five Proclamations which I
have issued, and which I have the honour of inclosing
b B e*d* to Your Excellency.
I have the honourb to be Sir, Your most obedient
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 241
& most humble Servant CORNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K B. &c &c &c.
143: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [14 Ap'ai] p 126.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Charles-town, Aug. 6, 1780.
This is five parts of No. 14 a* shown in margins pp 235-240.
I4F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 6 August 1780, TARLETON_P 126.
Extract of a letter from Lieutenant-general Earl
Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Charlestown,
August 6th, 1 780.
This is four parts of No. 14 as shown in margins pp 235-238.
143: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 6 August 1780, Extract PA 138/233.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lieu1. General Earl
Cornwallis to His Excell^ Sir Henry Clinton K.B.
Charles Town 6th August 1780. Received 24th
August. R/ from Sir Henry Clinton Sepr 25. 1780.
By Brigr Gen1 Dalrymple. 4. 22.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lieu* Gen1 Earl Corn
wallis dated Charles Town 6th Aug* 1 780.
This extract from No. 14 is shown in margins pp 235-238.
1 4V: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 6 August 1780, Extract HL No 22.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of aLetter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir
H^ Clinton, dated Charles Town 6th Augst 1 780. R/ By
Gen1 Dalrymple 2 5 Septr from Sir Henry Clinton. N° 2 2 .
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lieu* Gen1 Earl Corn
wallis dated Charles Town 6 Augst 1780.
This is two parts of No. 14 as shown in margins pp 235-238.
15 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 20 August 1780, ALS PA 156/113.
OBSERVATIONS [20 Ap'ai] p 127.
Endorsed Camden S° Carolina 2Oth Aug' 1780 Earl &sefiii
Cornwallis (N° i) Recd 9th October 2 Inclosures.a J£S
bN° i Camden Aug8t 2Oth 1 780
cMy Lord, Your Lordship will have been in
formed by Sir Henry Clinton of every thing that
passed in the Province of South Carolina from the J
3*
242 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
reduction of Charlestown, to the Defeat of the Corps
under Colonel Buford, by the great exertion &
valour of Lieut : Col : Tarleton.
Sir Henry soon afterwards embarked for New
York and appointed me to the command of His
Majesty's Forces in the Southern Provinces. I was
then at Camden, but the Corps with me being
totally destitute of Military Stores, Clothing, Rum,
Salt, & other articles necessary for Troops in the
operation Operations of the Field, and Provisions of all kinds
being deficient, almost approaching to a Famine in
North Carolina, it was impossible for me to pene
trate into that Province before the Harvest : I
\ll™ads therefore employed myself in fixing bposts of Troops
lte°mits from °the Pedee to the Savannah rivers, to awe the
disaffected and encourage the loyal Inhabitants, And
I took every measure in my Power to raise some
Provincial Corps, & to establish a Militia as well
for the Defence as for the internal Government of
South Carolina. One Provincial Corps to consist
of five hundred men was put in Commission to be
raised between the Pedee and Wateree to be com
manded by Mr. Harrison with the rank of Major,
And another of the same number was ordered to be
raised in the district of Ninety Six to be commanded
by Mr. Cunningham, to whom on account of his
™nyads active Loyalty for Several years past, I gave the
e R omit, to rank Qf Lieut Colonel ; And there appeared eto be
great reason to expect that both these Corps would
be soon compleated, as well as the first South
Carolina Reg1, which was composed of Refugees, who
had now returned to their native Country.
IB**.* fjn the district of Ninety-six, by far the most
populous and powerfull of the Province, L1 Col.
Balfour by his great attention & diligence, and
by the active assistance of Majr Ferguson, who was
gB omits appointed Inspector-General of gthe Militia of this
Province by Sir Henry Clinton, had formed seven
Battalions of Militia consisting of above four
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 243
thousand Men, and entirely composed of persons
well affected to the British Government ; which were
so regulated that they could with ease Furnish
fifteen hundred Men at a short notice for the
defence of the Frontier, or any other home
Service. But I must take this opportunity of ob
serving that this Militia can be of little use for
distant aMilitary operations, as they will not stir
without an Horse, & on that account Your Lordship
will easily bconceive the impossibility of keeping a
number of them together without destroying the
Country.0 Many Battalions were likewise formed by
myself & other Officers on the very extensive line from
Broad River to Cheraws, but they were in general
either weak, or not much to be relied on for their
fidelity. dln order to protect the raising of Harrison's
Corps & to awe a large tract of disaffected Country
between ethe Pedee & Black River, I posted Major
McArthur with the 7ist Reg1 & a troop of Dragoons
at Cheraw Hill on the Pedee, where his detachment
was plentifully supplied by the Country with Pro
visions of all kinds. Other small Posts were likewise
established in the front & on the left of Camden/
where the people were known to be ill disposed,
And the Main body of the Corps was posted at
Camden, gwhich, for this country, is reckoned a
tolerably healthy place, and where the Troops could
most conveniently subsist, & receive the necessary
supplies of various kinds from Charlestown. hl
likewise had settled good channels of Correspondence
with our friends in North Carolina, and had given
them positive directions to attend to their Harvests,
& to remain quiet untill I could march to their
relief. In this business I was greatly assisted by
Governor Martin, from whose abilities & zeal for the
service I have on many occasions derived great
advantages, and which I must beg that your Lord
ship will please to represent in the strongest terms
to his Majesty .k *0ends
244 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Having made the above arrangements, & every
thing wearing the face of tranquillity and submission,
I set ou^ a°n tne 2lSi °^ June f°r Charlestown, leaving
the command of the Troops on the frontier to Lord
Rawdon, who was, after Brigr Gen1 Paterson the
Commandant of Charlestown, the next Officer in
rank to me in the Province.
About this time I heard that two thousand of the
Maryland & Delaware Continental Troops were
entering North Carolina under Majr Gen1 Baron de
Kalb, & that He meant to take his quarters at
Hilsborough. There was then in that Country a
Corps of three hundred Virginia L* Infantry under
Col Porterfield, some Militia at Salisbury & Charlotte-
town under Genls Rutherford & Sumpter, & a large
body of Militia at Cross Creek under Gen1 Caswall.
As all these Corps were at a great distance from us,
and as I knew it to be impossible to march any
considerable body of Men across the Province of
North Carolina before the Harvest, I did not expect
that our posts on the frontier would be much dis
turbed for two months, And by that time I hoped to
be able to undertake offensive operations.
I had much business to do at Charlestown, in
regulating the Civil & Commercial Affairs of the
Town & Country, in endeavouring to form a Militia
in tne l°wer Districts, and in forwarding the prepara
tions for taking the Field at the time intended. The
business of the Country was particularly difficult, for
tow8nErmd many parts of the clower districts are extremely re
bellious, and this Climate (except in Charlestown) is
so bad within an hundred miles of the Coast from
the end of June untill the middle of October, that
Troops could not be stationed among them during
that period without a certainty of their being
rendered useless for some time for Military service,
if not entirely lost: And our principal Friends for
the same reasons were extremely Unwilling to remain
in the Country during that period, to assist in
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 245
forming the Militia and establishing some kind of
Government. aHowever under all these difficulties
the business was going on, when our tranquillity was
first disturbed by the accounts of a premature rising
of our Friends in Tryon County N Carolina, bin the *M omits in
latter end of June, who having assembled without
concert, plan, or proper leaders, were two days °after
surprised & totally routed by the Son of Gen1
Rutherford. Many of them fled into this Province,
where their reports tended much to terrify our
friends & encourage our enemies : And about
the same time, notwithstanding my injunctions to
the contrary, another body of Loyalists rose at the
forks of the Yadkin under Col : Bryan (driven to it as
they said by the most barbarous persecution) and
after a long & difficult march joined Majr Me Arthur
at the Cheraws to the amount of upwards of 700 Men.d dE st°Ps
Hostilities now commenced in different parts of
the frontier : Gen1 Sumpter an active & daring man
assembled at Catawba about a thousand Men, chiefly
Refugees from South Carolina & Georgia, and was
constantly Menacing our small posts & putting us
under the necessity of calling out the Militia of
Ninety Six. He was joined by many disaffected
persons who had been enrolled in our Militia, but as
there was no serious alarm, I was very unwilling to
put the Troops in Motion before our preparations were
ecompleat, & during the intense heat of the summer. l^e"^d
fBaron de Kalb moved early in July to Deep River facwrtMn
where He was joined first by Gen1 Caswall from Cross
Creek, & about the 25th by General Gates who took
the command of the Army : But as He was still
above an hundred miles from Majr McArthur, which
was the nearest post to him, Lord Rawdon did not
think it necessary to make any material alteration in
the disposition of the Troops. gFrom this time untill s^new^
the 2Oth of July, many skirmishes happened on the hu omits to
frontiers of Ninety Six, & towards Waxhaw, hbut none
of any material Consequence : The Enemy had how-
246 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
ever in the mean time filled this Province with their
emissaries, and in all the Eastern part of it were
planning a general revolt, which our lenity had left but
too much in their power. The Cheraw Hill was a
post of great consequence, & had the Appearance of
being healthy, but it proved so much the Contrary, &
sickness came on so rapidly that in nine days at least
two thirds of the 7ist Reg* were taken ill of Fevers
£ Agues, & rendered unfit for service. aAbout this
time the enemy were known to be in Motion, but the
rigour of their Government (Many of our principal
friends in N Carolina being confined in Dungeons
loaded with Irons & several having been put to death)
had so intimidated those, on whose good will & ability
to give the most accurate intelligence, we had the
greatest reason to depend, that Lord Rawdon could
obtain no certain accounts of them.
The Salvation of the 7ist Reg* as well as every
other consideration determined his Lordship to with-
draw the bpost at Cheraw Hill, this the active
incendiaries of the enemy represented as an act of
fear, & so encouraged the disaffected, & terrified
the wavering that the whole country between Pedee
& Black River openly avowed the Principles of
rebellion, and collecting in Parties commenced acts
cM reads of Hostility.
Our Cheraw Militia having seized & bound their
field officers, attack'd & took some boats on the
Pedee, in which Majr McArthur was sending near one
hundred of his sick to Georgetown ; I was greatly
alarmed for a small detachment which I had sent
under Majr Wemys to reduce the people of George
town to some order, & for my water communication
on the Santee, on which at that time a large
quantity of Rum, Salt, Arms & Military Stores
were moving in boats up to Camden.
At this time Gen1 Sumpter, whose numbers were
much augmented by the present prospect of affairs
attack'd our Post at Rocky Mount, but was repulsed
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 247
by the steady & gallant defence of L* Col. Turnbull,
& the small corps under his command : It now
appeared that aGeneral Gates was advancing with
his whole force from N Carolina, and Lord Rawdon
(whose Capacity & zeal for the service I cannot
too much commend) saw the necessity of contract
ing his Posts, & securing Camden, where we had all
our Stores & above 700 sick, but He could not
immediately withdraw his whole force to that place,
without a certainty of losing his communication
with Charlestown, & exposing the Posts dependant
on the ninety six command To be surrounded &
cut off: He therefore continued IA Co1 Turnbull
at Rocky Mount, Reinforced his post at Hanging
Rock, & placed himself with the principal force at
Robertson's on the west branch of Linches Creek.
The Post at Hanging Rock was attack'd by Gen1
Sumpter, a few days after his repulse bfrom Rocky j[tFSE read
Mount, & very nearly carried ; The bravery of Capt
McCullough, since dead of his wounds, & of the
Infantry of the Legion "preserved it. Lord Rawdon
waited for ''Gen1 Gates at Robertson's with the 23d,
33d? 7ist & volunteers of Ireland, who came up but
did not think proper to attack him ; in the mean
time His Lordship performed the arduous task of
removing the sick of the 7ist reg* to Camden. Gen1
Gates shewing no disposition to attack the Corps at
Robertson's, Lord Rawdon wisely apprehending that his
intention might be either to reinforce Sumpter & make
a more vigorous attack on the posts at Rocky Mount or
Hanging Rock, or by getting round his right destroy his
stores & take his sick at Camden, retired from Robert
son's to that place, where He was joined by the Corps
which had been before moved from Hanging Rock to
Rugeley's Mill, & directed L* Col Turnbull to quit
Rocky Mount, and either come down the west side of
the Wateree to Camden, or fall back con the Militia «*reudsto
Posts commanded by Majr Ferguson on Broad River.
All these incidents & movements on both sides
248 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
were regularly reported to me, while at Charlestown,
by Lord Rawdon, And I shall have the honor of in
forming Your Lordship of the consequences in my
next Dispatch, which will be written tomorrow. I
a M endt have the honor to be, awith great respect,
Your Lordships Most Obedient & Most Humble
Servant bCoRNWALLis.c
Rht Honble Lord George Germain &c &c &cd
158: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, OBSERVATIONS [20 Ap'x] p 127.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord George
Germain, dated Camden, August 20, 1780.
This extract from No. 15 is shown in margins pp 242-243.
I5F: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 20 Aug 1780, Duplicate LS RI 19/34.
Endorsed Duplicate. N° i. Lord Cornwallis to Lord
Geo : Germain, 2Oth Aug. 1 780.
Same as No. 15 with variations shown in margins pp 241-248.
153: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 20 August 1780, Triplicate LSRI 19/36.
Endorsed Triplicate. Earl Cornwallis to Lord George
Germain, Camden 20 August 1780.
Same as No. 15 with variations shown in margins pp 241-248.
157: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, Triplicate LS SACKVILLE 6/47.
Endorsed. Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain, dated Camden 2i8t August
1 780. R/ 9th Octr.
Same as No. 15 with variations shown in margins pp 241-248.
ICJE: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, Quadruplicate LS RI 19/35.
Endorsed Copy, Quadruplicate. N° i Earl Cornwallis
to Lord Geo. Germain Camden August 2Oth 1780.
This is two parts of No. 15 as shown in margins pp 241-248.
I5R: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 20 August 1780, Copy PA 631/182.
Endorsed Copy N° i Lieu1' Gen1 Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain 2Oth August 1780.
Same as No. 15 with variations shown in margins pp 241-248.
I5M: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 20 August 1780, Copy PA 308/99.
In margin Camden S° Carolina. 2Oth Aug* 1 780. Earl
Cornwallis. (N° i.) R/ 9th October.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 249
Mem. at end Inclosures N° i Return of Killed &
Wounded at Rocky Mount 2 D° at Hanging Rock.
Same as No. 15 with variations shown in margins pp 241-248.
150: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 2O August Extract SACKVILLE 6/46.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain 2Oth August 1 780 R/ 9th Octr.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord Geo : Germain dated Camden S° Carolina 2Oth
August 1780.
This extract from No. 15 is shown in margin p 243.
16 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 21 Aug. 1780, ALS PA 156/133.
OBSERVATIONS [21 Aj!x\ p 127. With Clinton's MS. Note from
TARLETON.
Endorsed Camden. S° Carolina 2ist Aug' 1780 Earl
Cornwallis (N° 2) Recd 9th October 4 Inclosures/ Entd *seeii-m
bN° 2. 'Camden Aug8' 2ist 1780
dMy Lord It is with great pleasure "that I com-
municate to Your Lordship an Account of a Com-
pleat Victory obtained on the i6th Ins1 by His
Majesty's Troops under my command, over the Rebel
Southern Army, Commanded by General Gates.
In my Dispatch N°. i I had the honour to inform
Your Lordship that while at Charlestown I was regu- Forces
laiiy acquainted by Lord Rawdon with every Material
incident or Movement made by the Enemy or by the
Troops under His Lordships command. gOn the 9th
Hns* two Expresses arrived with an account that Gen1 fn*f ow"*
Gates was advancing towards Lynches Creek, with
his whole Army supposed to amount to 6000 men,
exclusive of a Detachment of 1000 Men under Gen1
Sumpter, who ^fter having in vain attempted to force
the Posts at Rocky Mount & Hanging Rock, was
believed to be at that time trying to get round the
left of our position to cut off our communication
with the Congarees & Charlestown, That kthe dis-
affected Country between1 Pedee & Black River had
32
250
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
actually revolted ;* [and that Lord Rawdon was] con
tracting his Posts, [and preparing to assemble] his
force at Camden.
In consequence of this information, after finishing
some important points of business at Charlestown, 1
set out on the evening of the ioth and arrived at
Camden on the night between the 13th & 14th, and
our7ortea11 there found Lord Rawdon with aour whole force,
except L* Col. Turnbull's small detachment which
fell back from Rocky mount, to Major Ferguson's
posts of the Militia of Ninety Six on Little River.
I had now my option to make, either to retire or
battack the Enemy, for the position at Camden was a
bad one to be attack'd in, and by Gen1 Sumpters
advancing down the Wateree, my supplies must have
b F reads
attempt
I saw no difficulty in making good my retreat to
Charlestown with the Troops that were able to march,
but in taking that resolution, I must have not only
left near 800 sick and a great quantity of Stores at
this place, but I clearly saw the loss of the whole
dFn !i province except Charlestown, and dof all Georgia,
except Savannah, as immediate consequences ; besides
forfeiting all pretensions to future confidence from
our Friends in this part of America.1
* [In ALS these words were destroyed, and are here copied from PA
308/108.]
IT If such was your appre
hension My good Lord at a time
when the province had submitted
and you had numerous friends
and Militia and the works of
Charles Town were in good
repair, what must your appre
hension have been of the
consequences of your retreat
after Guilford to Wilmington
instead of Campden and after
wards into Virginia, had you not
the same losses to dread, you
own you had, Lord Rawdon and
Col. Balfour told you you had.
all those you conversed with did
the same. & with reason, for all
knew that S. Carolina had been
thrown back into Rebelion, by
Ferguson's misfortune, & by
some other subsequent losses
particularly by that at Cow-
pens and added to all this
you had imprudently suffered
great part of the works of C.
Town to be levelled and it was
actually in that exposed state
when you moved into N. Carolina
in Janry 81 when you retired
from it in april. 81 when you
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 251
On the other hand there was no doubt of the
Rebel Army being well appointed, & of its number
being upwards of Five thousand Men exclusive of
Gen1 Sumpter's detachment, and aof a Corps of &Fomitso*
Virginia Militia of 12 or 1500 men, either actually
joined, or expected to join the main body every hour;
And my own Corps, which never was numerous, was
now reduced by sickness & other casualties to about
1400 fighting men of Regulars & Provincials with 4
or 500 Militia & N. Carolina Refugees.5 DEN™,™
However the greatest part of the troops that I had
being perfectly good, and having left Charlestown
sufficiently garrisoned & provided for a siege, and
seeing little to lose by a defeat, & much to gain by
a Victory, I resolved to take the first good opportunity
to Attack the Rebel Army.
Accordingly I took great pains to procure good
information of their movements & position, and I
learned that they had encamped, after marching from
changing Rock, at Col. Rugeleys about 12 miles from l^einserts
hence, on the afternoon of the i4th.d
After consulting some intelligent people well
acquainted with the ground, I determined to march
at ten o'clock on the night of the 15*, & to Attack at
day break, pointing my principal force against their
Continentals, who from good Intelligence I knew to
be badly posted close to Col. Rugeley's House. eLate e°
in the evening 1 received information that the Vir
ginians had joined that day, however that having been
expected, I did not alter my Plan, but marched
at the hour appointed, leaving the defence of Camden
quitted Croscreek and instead of expose C Town " contrary to
going to Campden which would every military principle at every
have covered it you went to risk of all the provinces
Wilmington by which march you L. Rawdon's with your own
acknowledge you uncovered it. Corps & that of Phillips you
and finally when in defiance of moved into Virginia. Still look-
of all orders of the Comr in Chief ing northward, as you tell Tarlton
who had possitively " forbid your page, this leads to a short note
making any move that could in Alphal book.
252 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
to some Provincials, Militia, & Convalescents and a
detachment of the a63d reg*, which by being mounted
on horses which they had pressed on the road, it was
hoped would arrive in the course of the night.
I had proceeded nine miles, when about half an
hour past two in the Morning, my advanced guard
fell in with the enemy ; By the weight of the fire I
was convinced they were in considerable force, & was
soon assured by some deserters and prisoners bthat it
was the whole Rebel Army on its march to attack us
at Camden: I immediately halted & formed, & the
enemy doing the same the firing soon ceased. "Con
fiding in the disciplined Courage of His Majesty's
Troops, and well apprized by several intelligent
inhabitants that the ground on which both Armies
stood, being narrowed by swamps on the right & left,
was extremely favourable for my numbers ; I did not
chuse to hazard the great stake for which I was
going to fight, to the uncertainty & confusion to
which an action in the dark is so particularly liable,
But having taken measures that the Enemy should
dF omits it not have dit In their Power to avoid an engagement on
that ground, I resolved to defer the attack 'till day.
?*? ra«Lm *^ Dawn I made my last disposition, and formed
gF reads on fthe Troops in the following order, The division gof
the right consisting of a small Corps of L1 Infantry,
the 23d & 33d Regte under the command of L* Col.
Webster, The division of the left consisting of the
Volunteers of Ireland, Infantry of the Legion, & part
of L* Col. Hamiltons North Carolina Eegt under the
command of Lord Rawdon, with two six & two three
pounders, which were commanded by Lieut McLeod.
The 7ist Reg1 with two six pounders was formed as a
reserve, one Battalion in the rear of the division of
the right, the other of that of the left, And the
Cavalry of the Legion in the rear, & (the country
being woody) close to the 7ist reg*, with orders
to seize any opportunity that might offer to
break the Enemy's line, & to be ready to pro-
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 253
tect our own in case any Corps should meet with a
Check.* ^ runs on
This disposition was just made when I perceived bVEM!f
that the Enemy having 'likewise persisted in their ^like"
resolution to fight, were formed in two lines opposite
& near to us, and observing a movement con their left, oFreackin
which I supposed to be with an intention to make
some alteration in their order, I directed L* Col,
Webster to begin the attack,which was done withgreat
vigour, and in a few Minutes the action was general
along the whole front ; dlt was at this time a dead calm
with a little haziness in the Air, which preventing
the smoke from rising occasioned so thick a darkness,
that it was difficult to see the effect of a very heavy &
well supported fire on both sides: Our line con
tinued to advance in good order, and with the cool
intrepidity of experienced British Soldiers, keeping up
a constant fire or making use of Bayonets as opportu
nities offered, and after an obstinate resistance eduring
three quarters of an hour threw the enemy into total
Confusion, & forced them to give way in all quarters.
At this instant I ordered the Cavalry to compleat the
Route, which was performed with their usual prompt
itude & gallantry and after doing great execution on
the Field of Battle, they continued the pursuit to
hanging Rock, 22 miles, from the place where the
action happened, During which many of the enemy
were slain, fa number of prisoners, near 150 waggons, tv insert*
(in one of which was a brass Canon the carriage of a
which had been damaged in the skirmish of the
night) a considerable quantity of military Stores, and
all the baggage & Camp Equipage of the Rebel Army
fell into our hands.
The loss of the Enemy was very considerable, A
number of Colours and Seven pieces of brass Canon
(being all their artillery that were' in the Action) with
all their Amunition waggons were taken : Between
eight & nine hundred were killed, among that
number Brigr Gen1 Gregory, and about one thousand
254 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Prisoners, many of awhom wounded, of which number
were Majr Gen1 Baron de Kalb, since dead, and Brigr
Gen1 Rutherford.
b^P inserts j nave the honour to inclose a Return ofb Killed &
wounded on our side ; the loss of so many brave men
is much to be lamented, but the number is Moderate
in proportion to so great an advantage.
The behaviour of His Majesty's troops in general
was beyond all praise; It did honour to themselves &
to their Country. I was particularly indebted to
Col. Lord Rawdon and to L* Col. Webster for the
distinguished courage and ability with which they
conducted their respective divisions ; and the Capacity
and Vigour of L1 Col. Tarleton at the head of the
Cavalry deserve my highest commendations, Lieut.
McLeod exerted himself greatly in the conduct of
c N read* °our Artillery. My Aid de Camp Cap11 Ross & Lieut.
Haldane of the Engineers, who acted in that Capacity,
rendered me most essential Service, and the public
Officers Major of Brigade England who acted as
Deputy Adjutant General, & the Majors of Brigade
Manley & Doyle shewed the most active and zealous
attention to their duty; Governour Martin became
again a Military Man, & behaved with the spirit of a
young Volunteer.
The fatigue of the Troops rendered them incapable
a Breads of further dexertion on the Day of ethe Action : But as
exertions T , i • {• -r\ * • ~r\' • • r
OF omits the 1 saw the importance 01 Destroying or Dispersing, it
possible, the Corps under General Sumpter, as it
fM reads might prove a foundation for assembling the frouted
Army ; On the Morning of the 1 7th I detached L1
Col. Tarleton with the Legion Cavalry & Infantry &
the Corps of Light Infantry, making in all about 350
men, with orders to attack him wherever He could
find him, And at the same time I sent orders to L*
Col. Turnbull & Major Ferguson, at that time on
little river, to put their Corps in motion immediately,
g-p omits to and on their side gto pursue & endeavour to attack
Gen1 Sumpter. L' Col. Tarleton executed this service
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 255
with his usual activity & military address, He pro
cured good information of Sumpters movements, and
by forced and concealed marches came up with & sur
prized him in the middle of the day aon the 1 8th near the a N reads of
Catawba Fords ; He totally destroyed or dispersed his
detachment, consisting then of 700 men, killing 150
On the Spot & taking two pieces of Brass Canon &
300 Prisoners, & 44 waggons : He likewise retook
100 of our men, who had fallen into their hands
partly at the action at Hanging Rock, & partly
in escorting some waggons from Congarees to Camden,
& He released 150 of our Militia Men or friendly
Country people who had been seized by the Rebels.
Cap* Campbell who commanded the light Infantry, a
very promising Officer, was unfortunately killed in
bthis affair, our loss cotherways was trifling. dThis cbpR^he
action eis too brilliant to need any comment of mine, f^^
& will, I have no doubt, highly recommend L* Col. ewlsreads
Tarleton to his Majesty's Favour. fThe Rebel Forces
being at present dispersed, the internal commotions
& insurrections in the Province will now subside.
But I shall give directions to inflict exemplary punish
ment on some of the most guilty, in hopes to deter
others in future from sporting with allegiance/ with
Oaths, & with the lenity & generosity of the British
Government.
hOn the morning of the i;th I dispatched proper
people into North Carolina with directions to our
friends there to take arms & assemble immediately,
& to seize the most Violent People and all military
Stores & magazines belonging to the Rebels, & to
intercept all stragglers from the routed Army ; And
I have promised to march without loss of time to
their support. Some necessary supplies for the
Army are now on their way from Charlestown, and
I hope that their arrival will enable me to Move in
a few days.1
My Aid de Camp Cap* Ross will have the honour
of delivering this Dispatch to Your Lordship, & will
256 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
be able to give You the fullest account of the State
a^RN omit of ^he ^rmy & athe country. bHe is a very deserving
Officer, and I take the liberty of recommending him
to your Lordship's favour and patronage. I have
the honour to be,0 with great respect, Your Lordships
&0 Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant
COKNWALLIS.d
Rht Honble
e Bends Lord George Germain &c &c &ce
i6s: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, OBSERVATIONS [21 Ap'x~\p 127.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord George
Germain, dated Camden, August 21, 1780.
This extract from, No. 16 is shown in margin p 255.
i6F: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 21 August 1780, TARLETON^J 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Begins The London Gazette Extraordinary. White
hall, Oct. 9, 1780. This morning Captain Ross,
aid-de-camp to Lieutenant-general Earl Cornwallis,
arrived in town from South Carolina, with a letter
from his lordship to Lord George Germain, one of
His Majesty's principal secretaries of state, of which
the following is a copy.
Same as No. 16 with variations shown in margins pp 249-256.
1 6s: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 21 August 1780, TARLETON^J 185.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord George
Germain, dated Camden, August 21,1 780.
This extract from No. 16 is shown in margin p 255.
i6v: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 21 August 1780, Duplicate LSRI 19/37.
Endorsed Duplicate, N° 2. Earl Cornwallis to Lord
Geo. Germain August 2ist 1780.
Same as No. 16 with variations shown in margins pp 249-256.
1 6E : CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 2 1 August 1 7 80, Triplicate LS RI 1 9/40.
Endorsed Triplicate. Earl Cornwallis to Lord George
Germain. August 2ist 1780.
Same as No. 16 with variations shoivn in margins pp 249-256.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 257
i6n: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, Triplicate LS SACKVILLE 6/48.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain, dated Camden 2 Ist August
1780. E/ 9th October.
Same as No. 16 with variations shown in margins pp 249-256.
i6M: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, Quadruplicate LS RI 19/39.
Endorsed Copy. Quadruplicate. N° 2. Earl Cornwallis
to Lord Geo. Germain. Camden Aug* 2 Ist 1780.
Same as No. 16 with variations shown in marc/ins pp 249-256.
160: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 21 August 1780, Copy PA 308/108.
In margin Camden South Carolina 2ist August 1780
Earl Cornwallis. (N° 2.) E/ 9th Octr.
Mem. at end Inclosures. N° i. Field Eeturn of Lord
Cornwallis's Army previous to the Battle. 2. Ee
turn of killed & Wounded after the Battle. 3.
Eeturn of Ordnance & Military Stores taken from
the Enemy. 4. Eeturn of the killed & Wounded
in the Action under Col: Tarleton.
Same as No. 16 with variations shown in margins pp 249-256.
i6N: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 21 August 1780, Copy PA 631/183.
Endorsed Copy N° 2. Lieu1 Gen1 Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain 2 Ist August 1780.
Same as No. 16 with variations shown in margins pp 249-256.
i6T: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 21 August 1780, SACKVILLE 6/49.
Endorsed D. Extract of a Letter from Earl Corn
wallis to Lord George Germain, dated Camden,
South Carolina 2ist August 1780. E/ 9th Octr.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain dated Camden, S° Carolina
2ist August 1780.
2 his extract from No. 16 is shown in margin p 255.
17 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 23 August 1780, LS RI 19/41.
OBSERVATIONS [19 Ap'tc] p 127, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Duplicate 79. Earl Cornwallis to Sir H.
Clinton 23d August 1780.
Duplicate Camden August 23d 1780.
Sir, Your Excellency will have in all probability
33
258 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
received my letters of the 6th & ioth by Captain
Lutwidge. The opportunity was so safe, & I am at
present so hurried with business, with everybody
belonging to me Sick, that I shall omit sending the
Duplicates, until another opportunity.
I left Charlestown on the Evening of the ioth &
arrived here in the night of the 1 3th having suffered
the most anxious suspense on the road, where I met
frequently the most alarming reports, & had the
greatest reason to apprehend, that if our Affairs did
not speedily take a more favourable turn, the
greatest part of the inhabitants between Camden, &
Charles Town, would appear in Arms against us.
As I thought it of the greatest consequence to
His Majesty's Service that the account of the im
portant event of the i6th, should be communicated
with all possible expedition to the Secretary of State ;
and as your Excellency told me in a conversation at
Williams's House, that if I fought a Battle and took
Cannon, I should write directly to England, I have
on this occasion dispatched my Aid de Camp Captain
Ross with the letters to Lord George Germain, of
which I have the honor to enclose to you the Copies.
I must beg leave to recommend in the strongest
manner to you the brave Troops who fought with
me on that day. Their behaviour was indeed above
all praise, & deserves every encouragement. Poor
Major Mecan died a few days before the Action ; &
as I cannot possibly dispense with Lieu* Col. Balfour's
remaining at Charlestown, where he is of infinite use,
I must particularly request, that you will please to
appoint some active good Officer to the Majority of
the 23d Regiment.
i* begin *I have not yet heard any accounts from N° Caro
lina ; but I hope that our friends will immediately
take Arms as I have directed them to do. The
diversion in the Chesapeak, will be of the utmost
importance. The troops here, have gained reputa
tion, but they have lost numbers, and there can be
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 259
no doubt, athat the enemy will use every effort to aBrearfsbut
repel an attack ; which, if successfull, must end in
their losing all the Southern Colonies
I have likewise to observe, that if a general
Exchange should take place, the Enemy's prisoners
should, in my opinion, be delivered at the same
place, as ours are sent bin.° The Rebels now confined
at Charlestown, are almost all Continentals, and of
the old Country ; and would, if released from hence,
soon form a Corps on the frontiers of Virginia, far
superior in number to the troops under my Com
mand; & I do not think, if the Prisoners were all
removed ; that I could draw any considerable rein
forcement from the Garrison of Charlestown, con
sidering the great distance we shall be removed from
thence.
dlt is difficult to form a plan of operations, which *B continues
must depend, so much, on circumstances but it at
present appears to me, that I should endeavor to
get, as soon as possible, to Hillsborough1 ; & there
assemble, and try to arrange the friends who are
inclined to arm in our favour ; and endeavor to form
a very large Magazine for the Winter, of Flour, &
Meal from the Country, and of Eum, Salt &c from
Cross Creek ; which I understand to be about eighty
miles carriage. But all this, will depend on the
operations which your Excellency may think proper
to pursue in the Chesapeak, which appears to me, next2
to the Security of New York, to be one of the most
important objects of the War. I can only repeat
what I have often had the honour of saying to you ;
that wherever you may think my presence, can be
most conducive to "His Majesty's Service, thither, I
am at all times ready, and willing to go/3
la Hillsborough underlined. Guilford you force yourself
2a next underlined. upon me to the Northward &
3a and yet when I recom- operation in a most sickly dis-
mend your going to the healthy trict at the worst of seasons.
parts of the Carolinas after
26o CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
When I found that Gen1 Gates was advancing
towards Camden, I sent orders, to The Commanding
Officer at Ninety Six, to push parties of Militia, sup
ported by Provincials, in the rear of his right ; and
endeavor to harrass his convoys, and be ready to take
advantage of any success that we might have against
him. I have since, a report that Lieu1 Col. Innes, in
attempting this Service, fell in, on the 19th, with a
party of Rebels ; when he was deserted by the Militia,
& himself wounded in the neck ; and about Fifty
Officers & men of his Provincials Killed, Wounded,
or taken, the rebels, who were pursuing him, heard
of our Successes against Gates, £ Sumpter, and went
off with great precipitation. Major Wemys, per
formed his March from George Town without loss, or
difficulty, and is now in the neighbourhood of this
place.
I am sorry to say, that I fear Major Harrison will
totally fail, in his attempt to raise a Corps.
Our sickness is great, and truly alarming, the
Officers are particularly affected ; Doctor Hayes, and
almost all the Hospital Surgeons are laid up. Every
person of my family, and every Public Officer of the
Army, is now incapable of doing his duty. I have
the honour to be Sir Your most Obedient & most
humble Servant CORKWALLIS.
His Excellency
Sir Henry Clinton &c &c &c.
176: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [19 Ap'x] p 127.
With Clintoris Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camden, August 23, 1780.
This is tivo parts of No. 17 as shown in margins pp 258-259.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 261
18 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 29 Aug. 1780, Copy PA 138/515.
OBSERVATIONS [21 Ap'ai] p 127, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed. Copy Lieu* Gen1 Earl Cornwallis to His
Excels Sir H. Clinton Camden 29th Augst 1780
Received Septr 23d. N° 3. In Sir Henry Clintons N°
Copy Camden 2 9th August 1780
Sir, I send Duplicates of my Letters of the 23d
and of those of the 6th & ioth of this Month. Noth
ing very material has occurred since the 23d. We
receive the strongest Professions of Friendship from
North Carolina. Our Friends however do not seem
inclined to rise untill they see our Army in Motion.
The Severity of the Rebel Government has so terrified
& totally subdued the Minds of the People, that it is
very difficult to rouze them to any Exertions. The
taking that violent and cruel Incendiary Gen1
Rutherford has been a lucky Circumstance ; but the
indefatigable Sumpter is again in the Field, & is beat
ing up for Recruits with the greatest Assiduity.
Major Wemyss is going with a Detachment of the
63d Regiment mounted, some Refugees, Provincials &
Militia to disarm in the most rigid Manner the
Country between Santee & Pedee, and to punish
severely all those who submitted or pretended to live
peaceably under His Majesty's Government since the
Reduction of Charlestown, and have joined in this
second Revolt. And I ordered him to hang up all
those Militia Men who were concerned in seizing
their Officers and capturing the Sick of the 7ist
Regiment. I have myself ordered several Militia
Men to be executed, who had voluntarily enrolled
themselves and borne Arms with us, and afterwards
revolted to the Enemy.
The Number of Prisoners was a great Incon
venience to us here, in a small Village so crowded
and so sickly. I was afraid that the close place in
which we were obliged to confine them might produce
some pestilential Fever during the excessive hot
262 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Weather. I therefore sent them off as early as
possible, by Divisions of 150 each, under the Escort
of 38 Men, about two thirds of which were composed
of the 63d & Prince of Wales's Kegiments, the rest
Militia. In order to cover their March, altho' I did
not apprehend much danger, I posted Major Wemys
with a Part of the 63d at the high Hills of Santee,
and I sent Lieu* Colonel Tarleton with a Detach
ment of the Legion, & Lieut1 Colonel Hamilton's
Corps & some Militia to Ratcliffes Bridge on Linches
Creek, which I thought would effectually awe the
lower Country. The Disaffection however of the
Country East of Santee is so great, that the Account
of our Victory could not penetrate into it — any
person daring to speak of it being threatened with
instant Death. And so great was the Ignorance in
which these People were kept, that on the Night of
the 23d a Party of about 200 mounted Militia under
Colonel Marion went to Murrays Ferry, where they
passed some Men in Canoes, drove away our Militia
Guard, and destroyed the Ferry Boats to prevent our
making our Escape from General Gates over the
Santee. On the 24th they were proceeding to do the
Same at Nelsons Ferry, when they heard of the March
of the first Division of Prisoners, and that they were
to halt that Night at Sumpters House (which halting
place was not very well chosen by the Qr Mr General).
The Ensign of the Militia of the Escort contrived to
get over to the Enemy, and conducted them to the
Attack. The Consequence of which was that our
Escort was taken and the Prisoners released. By this
Time some Patroles of Lieu* Colonel Tarleton's to
Kings tree Bridge on Black River had spread the
Alarm in their Rear, and being perfectly convinced
by the Prisoners of General Gates's total Defeat ; they
retired with great Precipitation to George Town.
The greatest Part of the Escort escaped from them,
and above eighty of the Prisoners, all Continentals
either English or Irish, declared their Determination
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 263
to proceed to Charlestown. I am assured that not
more than twelve of the Escort, and forty of the
Prisoners were carried off hy the Enemy. I believe
that Cap* Roberts of the 63d who commanded the
Escort, did his Duty perfectly well, & was not to
blame in any Respect.
al hope to be able to move my first Division in
eight or nine days into North Carolina by Charlotte-
Town & Salisbury ; the Second will follow in about
ten days after, with convalescents & Stores. I shall
leave the New York Volunteers and Innes's Corps to
take Care of this Place untill the Sick & Stores can be
removed. Our Sickness at present is rather at a Stand,
the Recovery's nearly keeping Pace with the falling
down. I dread the Convalescents not being able to
march ; but it is very tempting to try it, as a Move
of forty or fifty Miles would put us into a much bet
ter Climate.
Ferguson is to move into Tryon County with some
Militia, whom he says He is sure bhe can depend upon
for doing their Duty and fighting well ; but I am
sorry to say that his own Experience as well as that
of every other Officer is 'totally against him.d1*2*3
I am very anxious to hear again from the North-
ward, as our Accounts of the French Fleet were very
imperfect.
el most sincerely hope that Nothing can happen to <>B continue*
prevent your Excellency's intended Diversion in the
Chesapeak. If unfortunately any unforeseen Cause
should make it impossible, I should hope that you
la could I have believed misfortunes South Carolina mili-
after this opinion that he would tia is nearly anihilated & that
have sent Ferguson so far from province thrown back in Rebell-
him (& put the Catawbaw ion.
River between them) unsup- 2a notwithstanding which
ported, the Conseque was, Fer- He lets him go
guson's Corps is murdered, His 3b after this could S H. C.
Lordship obliged to precipitate suppose L. C. would risk Fer-
Re treat leaving friends of N. guson without support he did
Carolina to the mercy of the however & F. was massacred.
Foe. and in conseqce of all these
264 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
will see the absolute Necessity of adding some Force
a B ends f.Q faQ Carolinas.a I have the Honor to be Your
most obedient & Most humble Servant (Signed)
CORNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B.
i SB: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [21 Ap'x] p 127.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camden, August 29, 1780.
This is two parts of No. 18 as shown in margins pp 263-264.
19 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 19 Sept. 1780, LS PA 156/369.
OBSERVATIONS [30 Ajfx\ p 127, PARTING WORD [26]^ 193.
Endorsed Camp at Waxhaw iQth Sep* 1780. Earl
a see ii. 344 Cornwallis N° 3 R/ i Ith December ( i Inclosurea) Entd.
N° 3. Camp at Waxhaw Septr 19th 1780.
bespit b^y L^ j j^ t^e honor to inform Your
Lordship, in my letter of the 2 Ist of August, that I had
dispatched proper people into North Carolina, to
exhort our friends in that province to take Arms, to
seize Military Stores, and Magazines of the Enemy,
and to intercept all straglers of the routed Army.
t\ begin* "Some parties of our friends, who had embodied
themselves near the Pedee, disarmed several of the
Enemy's Stragglers ; but the leading persons of the
Loyalists, were so undecided in their Councils, that
they lost the critical time of availing themselves of
our Success, and even suffered General Gates to pass
to Hillsborough, with a Guard of six Men only.
eFiS? dThey continue however, to give me the 'strongest
strongest assurances of support, when His Majesty's Troops shall
have penetrated into the interior parts of the
{Fends Province/ the patience and fortitude with which they
endure the most cruel torments, and suffer the most
violent oppressions that a Country ever laboured
under, convince me that they are sincere, at least as
far as their affection to the Cause of Great Britain.g
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 265
The number of prisoners taken in the Actions of
the 1 6th & 1 8th of last Month, occasioned great incon
venience to us in the small Village of Camden, which
was so crowded, and so sickly, I was afraid that the
close place, in which we was obliged to confine them,
might produce some pestilential fever during the ex
cessive hot weather. I therefore sent them off to
Charletown as early as possible, by divisions of One
hundred & fifty each, under the escort of thirty
eight men ; about two thirds of which were composed
of the 63d, and Prince of Wales's Regiments, and the
rest Militia, in order to cover their March, although
I did not apprehend much danger, I posted Major
Wemyss with about One hundred men of the 63d
Eegiment on the high hills of Santee, and I sent Lfc
Col. Tarleton with a detachment of the Legion ; and
Lf Col. Hamilton's Corps, and some Militia to Rat-
cliffes bridge, on Linches Creek, which I thought
would effectually awe all the lower Country. The
disaffection however Hn the Country East of Santee, *s read* of
is so great, that the Account of our Victory could
not penetrate into it ; any person daring to speak
of it, being threatened with instant death : And so
great was the ignorance in which these people were
kept, that on the night of the 23d of August, a party
of about Two hundred of the Inhabitants, in the
neighbourhood of Black River, under the command
of Col. Marion went to Murrays ferry, where they
passed some Men in Canoes, drove away our
Militia guard, who fled at the first shot, and de
stroyed the ferry boats, to prevent our making our
escape from General Gates over the Santee. On
the 24th, they were proceeding to do the same at
Nelsons ferry, when they heard of the march of the
first division of Prisoners, and that they were to halt
that night, at Sumpters house, about six miles East
of the ferry. The Ensign of the Militia of the escort,
contrived to get over to the enemy, and conducted
them to the attack of Sumpters house ; the conse-
34
266 CLINTON-CORN WALLIS CONTROVERSY
quence of which was, that our Escort was taken, and
the Prisoners released. By this time, some Patroles
of L* Col. Tarleton's to Kingstree bridge, on Black
River, had spread the alarm in that Country ; and
the Enemy, being perfectly convinced by the Prisoners,
of General Gates's total defeat, retired with great
precipitation to Georgetown. Great part of the
Escort escaped from them, and above eighty of the
Prisoners; all Continentals, either English, or Irish, de
clared their determination to proceed to Charles-town.
I am sorry to inform Your Lordship, that the
Troops under my Command, as well Officers as Men,
have continued very sickly ever since the Action, in
hopes that the change of Air might be useful, I
moved from Camden on the 7th of this Month, with
the 23d, 33d & Volunteers of Ireland, and encamped
on Waxhaw Creek. Lieu1 Col. Tarleton marched the
next day, with the Light Troops, up the West side
of the Catawba River. The 7ist Regiment, who are
beginning a little to recover, are to join me in a few
days. Major Wemys is gone with part of the 63d
Regiment, and of Ll Col. Hamilton's Corps, to
endeavour to form a Militia in the district of
Cheraws, on whose fidelity we may place some
dependance ; and to punish those Traitors who after
voluntarily engaging in our Militia, deserted to the
enemy. Detachments are likewise gone, for the same
purpose, to Georgetown.
1 must assure Your Lordship, that His Majesty's
Service has derived the greatest advantages, from
the ability, and great exertion of L* Col. Balfour in
the very important post of Commandant of Charles-
town, where he has put every thing into such perfect
Order, and has formed so respectable a Militia, that
with the concurrance of Majr Moncrief the Chief
Engineer, he is enabled to spare another Battalion
for the field, notwithstanding the increase of
Prisoners ; in consequence of which the
Regiment is now on its March to join me.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 267
By the Capitulation of Charlestown, the Town
Militia were allowed to remain on parole, and their
property in Town was to be secured to them. About
twenty or thirty of them who had been the Ring
leaders of Rebellion in this Province, held constant
meetings, from which they carried on a correspon
dence with the enemy, and with all the disaffected
parts of the Province; and received, in order to
propagate it throughout the Town, and Country
adjacent, General Gates's Proclamation, they ad
vanced, in the most publick, and insolent manner,
the grossest falshoods ; tending to encourage the
disaffected, and to terrify the well disposed Inhabi
tants ; and seemed to imagine, that their Parole was
intended only to protect them, without laying them
under any restraint whatever, it was impossible, with
safety to the Town, full of Rebel Prisoners, to suffer
them to persevere in these dangerous practices ; I
therefore ordered them to be seized, and transported,
with their Baggage, to S* Augustiue ; where they
will remain, on parole, without a possibility of
hurting the Interests of Great Britain. I am aware,
that this proceeding, may raise a clamour amongst
the enemies of my Country ; but I am fully convinced
that it was as Just, as it was absolutely necessary.
I transmit to Your Lordship a Copy of a Pro
clamation which I thought myself under the necessity
of issuing relative to the Sequestration of Rebel
Property, the severe mortification Vhich it must
occasion to His Majesty's Loyal Subjects on this
Continent to see their Estates Confiscated, and
themselves and their families reduced to beggary
whilst their inhuman persecutors, who have brought
ruin and destruction on them, are suffered to persist
openly in the avowal of Rebellion and to continue
to enjoy by permission of the British Government
the full possession of their property, renders this
measure in my opinion absolutely indispensable,
and as it can affect no future plan, and only appro-
268 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
priates those funds, to the present use of Government,
which would otherwise be employed against it, I natter
myself, that it will meet with His Majesty's approbation.
The great sickness of the Army, the intense heat,
and the necessity of totally subduing the Rebel
Country between the Santee, and Pedee, have
detained me longer than I could have wished, on
the frontiers of this Province. I am likewise
anxious to hear from New York, from whence I
a s omits of have no Accounts since the 15th aof July; I hope
however, that nothing can prevent my entering
b sends i North Carolina before the end of this Month.b I
have the honour to be Your Lordship's most
Obedient, & most humble Servant CORNWALLIS.
Right Honorable Lord George Germain &ca. &ca. &ca.
IQB: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, OBSERVATIONS [30 Ap'ad] p 127.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord George Ger
main, dated Camp at Waxhaw, September 19, 1780.
This extract from No. 19 is shown in mar gin p 264.
IQF: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, PARTING WORD [26]^? 193.
Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Lord
George Germaine, dated Sept. iQth, 1780.
This extract from No. 19 is shown in margin p 264.
193: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 19 September 1780, Copy PA 308/207.
In margin Camp at Waxhaw 19 Septr 1780. Lord
Cornwallis (N° 3.) R/ IIth Decr.
Mem. at end Inclosure, Proclamation.
Same as No. 19 with variations shown in margins pp 264-268.
1 9V: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 19 September 1780, SACKVILLE 6/6 1.
Endorsed (E) Extract of a Letter from Lord Corn
wallis to Lord George Germain, dated Camp at
Waxhaw 19th Sepr 1780. R/ nth Decr.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain, dated Camp at Waxhaw 19th
September 1 780.
This extract from No. 19 is shown in margin p 264.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 269
20 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [22 Ayfx\ p 127.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn-
wallis, dated New-York, September 20, 1780.
I have always thought operation in the Chesapeak
of the greatest importance, and have often mentioned
to Admiral Arbuthnot the necessity of making a
diversion in your Lordship's favour in that quarter ;
but have not been able till now to obtain a convoy
for this purpose.
Your Lordship will receive inclosed a sketch of
the instructions I intend to give to Major-general
Leslie, who will command the expedition; which will
give a general idea of the design of the move. But
if your Lordship should wish any particular co
operation from that armament, General Leslie will of
course consider himself under your Lordship's orders,
and pay every obedience thereto.
I have the honour to inclose the copy of a letter I
wrote to Lord George Germain, and of his Lordship's
answer, respecting the option Lord Eawdon had
made in favour of his provincial rank. And I am
happy in having it in my power to communicate to
his Lordship the King's pleasure that he should still
retain his rank of Lieutenant-colonel in the line,
which I beg leave to take this opportunity of doing
through your Lordship.
21 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [29 Ap'a!\p 127.
With Clintons Manuscript Note.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Camp at Waxhaw, September 22, 1780.
alf nothing material happens to obstruct my plan of
operations, I mean, as soon as Lieutenant-colonel
Tarleton can be removed, to proceed with the twenty-
third, thirty-third,volunteers of Ireland, and Legion,
to Charlotte-town, and leave the seventy-first here
until the sick can be brought on to us. I then
mean to make some redoubts and establish a
270 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
fixed post at that place, and give the command of it
wBemyss to Major a\Vimys, whose regiment is so totally demo
lished by sickness, that it will not be fit for actual
service for some months. b To that place I shall bring
up all the sick from Camden, who have any chance
of being serviceable before Christmas, and trust to
opportunities for their joining the army.
The post at Charlotte-town will be a great security
to all this frontier of South- Carolina, which, even if
we were possessed of the greatest part of North-
Carolina, would be liable to be infested by parties,
who have retired with their effects over the moun
tains,1 and mean to take every opportunity of carry
ing on a predatory war, and it will, 1 hope, prevent
insurrections in this country, which is very disaffected.
1 then think of moving on my principal force to
Salisbury, which will open this country sufficiently
for us to see what assistance we may really expect
from our friends in North-Carolina ; and will give
us a free communication with the Highlanders, on
whom my greatest dependance is placed.
lc mountains underlined.
2 IB: CoRNWALListo CLINTON, 22 September 1780, TARLETON^) 191.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated camp at Wacsaw, Sept. 22, 1780.
This extract from No. 21 is shown in margins pp 269-270.
22 CLINTON TO LESLIE, 10 Oct., OBSERVATIONS [25 Ap'x]p 127.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Instructions to the Hon. Major-general Leslie, dated
Head-Quarters, New- York, October 10, 1780.
as begins aSir, You will be pleased to proceed with the
troops embarked under your command to Chesapeak
Bay ; and upon your arrival at that place, you will
pursue such measures as you shall judge most likely to
answer the purpose of this expedition ; the principal
object of which is to make a diversion in favour of
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 271
Lieutenant-general Earl Cornwallis, who by the time
you arrive there will probably be acting in the back
parts of North Carolina. The information you
shall procure on the spot after your arrival at your
destined aport, will point out to you the properest
method of accomplishing this. But from bthat which
I have received here, I should judge it best to pro
ceed up James River as high as possible, in order to
seize or destroy any magazines the enemy may have
at Petersburg, Richmond, or any of the places adja
cent ; and finally, to establish a post on Elizabeth
River.1 But this, as well as the direction of every
other operation, is submitted to Earl Cornwallis, with
whom you are as soon as possible to communicate,
and afterwards to follow all such orders and directions
°you shall from time to time receive from his Lordship.d 1? inserts
H. CLINTON.
la This Plan Lord Corn- had prevented his availing him-
wallis speaks highly of, but self of it.
laments that Fergns misfortune
22B: CLINTON to LESLIE, 10 October 1780, TARLETONJ? 199.
Instructions to the Hon. Major-general Leslie, dated
head quarters, New York, Oct. 10, 1780.
Same as JVb. 22 with variations shown in margins pp 270-271.
23 RAWDON TO LESLIE, 24 Oct., OBSERVATIONS [32 Ap'x]p 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Lord Rawdon to Major-general Leslie,
dated aCamp, near the Indian Lands, West of bCat-
tawba river, South Carolina, Oct. 24, 1780. s insert
cSir, dLord Cornwallis not being sufficiently re-
covered from a severe fever which lately attacked him
to be able to write to you, his Lordship has desired
that I should have the honour of communicating with
you upon the subject of the present service. eThe
Commander in Chief has transmitted to Lord Corn-
272 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
wallis a copy of the instructions under which you are
to act. At the time when Petersburgh was suggested
as an adviseable point for a diversion, which might
co-operate with our intended efforts for the reduction
of North Carolina, it was imagined that the tranquil-
th*tread lity of South Carolina was assured; aand the repeated
Assurances which were sent to us by the Loyalists in
North Carolina, gave us reason to hope, that their
number and their zeal would not only facilitate
the restoration of his Majesty's government in that
province, but might also supply a force for more
extensive operations. Events unfortunately have not
answered to "these flattering promises. dThe eappear-
ance of General Gates's army unveiled to us a fund of
approach disaffection in this province, of which we could have
formed no idea ; and even the dispersion of that force
did not extinguish the ferment which the hope of its
support had raised. fThis hour the majority of the
inhabitants of that tract between the Pedee and the
Santee are in arms against us ; and when we last
heard from Charles-town, they were in possession of
George-town, from which they had dislodged our
militia/
It was hoped that the rising which was expected
of our friends in North Carolina might awe that dis
trict into quiet ; therefore, after giving them a little
chastisement, by making the seventh regiment take
that route hin its way to the army, Lord Cornwallis
r«/fc»v advanced to Charlotteburg.1
Major Ferguson, with about eight hundred militia
collected from the neighbourhood of Ninety-six, had
previously marched into Tryon county to protect our
friends, who were supposed to be numerous there ;
and it was intended, that he should cross the Cat-
tawba river,1 and endeavour to preserve tranquillity in
n?3 r2X tne rear °f tne army.k A numerous ferny now ap-
peared on the frontiers, drawn from Nolachucki, and
la of this I complain to such Risk, after what he had
place Ferguson & his Corps in said.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 273
other settlements beyond the mountains, whose very
names had been unknown to us.2 A body of these,
joined by the inhabitants of the ceded lands in
Georgia, made a sudden and violent attack upon
Augusta. The post was gallantly defended by Lieu
tenant-colonel Brown, till he was relieved by the
activity of Lieutenant-colonel Cruger: but Major
Ferguson, by endeavouring to intercept the enemy in
their retreat, unfortunately gave time for fresh abodies
of men to pass the mountains, and to unite into a them
corps far superior to that which he commanded. They
came up with him, and after a sharp action Entirely
defeated him. Ferguson was killed, and all his party
either slain or taken.0
By the enemy's having secured all the passes on
the Cattawba,3 Lord Cornwallis (who was waiting at
Charlotteburg for a convoy of stores) received but
confused accounts of the affair for some time : dbut at
length the truth reached him ; and the delay, equally
with the precautions6 the enemy had taken to keep
their victory from his knowledge, gave fLord Corn-
wallis great reason to fear for the safety of Ninety-six.
To ^secure that district was indispensible for the
security of the rest of the province ; and Lord Corn
wallis saw no means of effecting it, but by passing
the Cattawba river with his army ; for it was so
weakened by sickness, that it would not bear detach
ment.11 hBFrwtt0n
After much fatigue on the march, occasioned by
violent rains, we passed the river three days ago. We
then received the first intelligence, respecting xthe
different posts in this province, which had reached
us for near three weeks ; every express from Camden
having been waylaid, and some of them murdered by
the inhabitants.4 — Ninety-six is safe : the corps
2a that of the Indians their it would have kept them at home,
neighbours was not unknown to 3a This proves the impro-
them. these Indians should have priety of thus placing Ferguson,
been permitted to menace. at least 4a bad bad all bad 1 I
35
274
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a B runs on
b FS omit to
detailed and
read At pre
sent we fear
c FS read
opposition
would
d B inserts
ever
e FS insert
much
tBFread
your
h BF read
directions
i BFS insert
more
k FS read in
which defeated Ferguson having, in consequence of
our movement, crossed the Cattawba, and joined
Small wood on the Yadkin.a
In our present position we have received the first
intimation of the expedition under your command.
bFrom the circumstances which I have detailed, we
fear that we are too far asunder to render your co
operation very effectual. No force has presented it
self to us, whose "operation could have been thought
serious against this army: but then we have little
hopes of dbringing the affair to the issue of an action.
The enemy are mostly mounted militia, not to be
overtaken by our infantry, nor to be safely pursued in
this strong country by our cavalry. Our fear is, that
instead of meeting us, they would slip by us into this
province, were we to proceed far from it,5 and might
again stimulate the disaffected to serious insurrection.
This apprehension you will judge, Sir, must greatly
circumscribe our efforts. Indeed, Lord Cornwallis
cannot hope that he shall be able to undertake any
thing upon such a scale, as either to aid you, or6 to
benefit from you in four present situation/ The Com
mander in Chief has signified to Lord Cornwallis,
that his Lordship is at liberty to give you any Mirec-
tion for farther co-operation which may appear to
him expedient. But his Excellency has complied6
so very fully7 and completely8 with Lord Cornwallis's
request, by sending so powerful9 a force to make a
diversion in the Chesapeak, that his Lordship fears
he should require too much, were he to draw you
into the immediate service of this district. His Lord
ship is likewise delicate kon this point,10 because he
does not know how far, by drawing you from the
5a with such an Enemy &
in such a Country you are ever
to dread it.
6a Very civil but not more
than my conscience tells me I
deserve.
7d fully underlined.
8d completely underlined.
9d so powerful underlined.
lOd I wish his Lordship had
persisted in that Delicacy, he
would not have marched into
Virginia.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 275
Chesapeak, he might interfere with any other pur
poses11 to which the Commander in Chief may have
destined your troops. Under athese circumstances,
Lord Cornwallis thinks himself obliged to leave you
at liberty to pursue Nvhatever measures may appear 5rlaSo2r«
to your judgment best for his Majesty's service, and
most consonant °with the wishes of the Commander in th^SvKw^of
Chief. dNo time is specified to Lord Cornwallis as dv continues
the limitation of your stay to the southward. Should
your knowledge of Sir Henry Clinton's desires prompt
you to make a trial upon North Carolina, Cape Fear
river appears to us eto be the only part where your
efforts are at present likely to be effectual. A de
scent there would be the surest means of joining and
arming the friends of government, as well as of co
operating with this army/
This, therefore, would naturally be the point to
which Lord Cornwallis would bring you, did he con
ceive himself at liberty so absolutely to dispose of
you. It must be remarked, however, that there are
two difficulties in this plan ; the first is, that the
country from Cape Fear to Cross-creekg (the High-
land settlement) produces so little,h it would be re-
quisite in penetrating through it to carry your provi- that
sions with you ; the second is, that no vessel larger
than a frigate can pass the bar of Cape Fear harbour.
Whatever you decide, Lord Cornwallis desires
. / ., , v whatsoever
earnestly to hear from you as soon as possible/ kBrwuon
Tis uncertain yet what steps this army (if left to
itself) must pursue ; but it will be ready at least
to act vigorously in aid !to any plan which you may IF reads ot
undertake. Lord Cornwallis begs that you mwill inform
the Commander in Chief of our circumstances, and
that you will have the goodness to mention how
highly sensible12 his Lordship is to the very effectual
manner13 in which his Excellency has endeavoured to
lid purposes underlined. 13d effectual manner to pro-
12d highly sensible underlined. vince underlined.
276
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a PS read
this
c B runs on
d Breads an
f FS read
will
Your most
Obedient &
very faith
ful Servant
(Signed)
Rawdon
h see ii. 351
see ii. 356
ease the operations of ahis army. The measure must
have been attended with the most favourable conse
quences, had not accidents,14 which no foresight could
expect, so greatly altered the complexion of bour
affairs in this province.0
Lord Cornwallis desires me to add how much satis
faction he should feel in having your assistance upon
this service, did it promise more favourably for you.
But should the intentions of the Commander in Chief
have left you at liberty to make dthe attempt at Cape
Fear, the success which would probably attend that
essential service would be doubly pleasing to Lord
Cornwallis, from the opportunity it would most likely
give him of congratulating you in person. e Allow me
to add my hopes that the course of the service fwould
put it in my power to assure you, personally, how
much I have the honour to be,g &c. (Signed)
RAWDON.
14d Fergusons defeat.
238: RAWDON to LESLIE, 24 October 1780, Copy PA 138/681.
Endorsed Copy Colonel Lord Rawdon to Major Gen1
Leslie 24th October 1780. In Sir H> Clinton's
(Separate) of 12 Novr i78oh 34.
Same as No. 23 with variations shown in margins pp 271-276.
23F: RAWDON to LESLIE, 24 October 1780, Copy PA 156/515.
Endorsed In Earl Cornwallis's of 1 8thDecr i 780* ( i .) 34.
Same as No. 23 with variations shown in margins pp 271-276.
238: RAWDON to LESLIE, 24 October 1780, Copy HL NO 34.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lord Kawdon to
Major General Leslie, dated Camp near the Indian
Lands of the Catawba River S° Carolina Octr 24th 1 780.
Transmitted to Lord George Germain In Earl Corn
wallis's Letter of 1 8th December 1780. R/ 17th
1781 N°34
Same as No. 23 with variations shown in margins pp 271-276.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 277
237: RAWDON to LESLIE, 24 October 1780, Extract SACKVILLE 6/70.
Endorsed (F) Extract of a Letter from Lord Rawdon
to The Honble Major General Leslie (commanding on
an Expedition). Dated Camp near Indian Lands
West of the Catawba River S° Carolina. Octr 24th
1780. In Lord Cornwallis's of 18 Decr 1780.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord Rawdon to The
Honble Major General Leslie, Dated Camp near the
Indian Lands West of the Catawba River S° Carolina
Octr24th 1780.
This is two parts of No. 23 as shoivn in margins pp 271-2, 275.
24 RAWDON TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [39 Ap'x] p 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Lord Rawdon to Sir Henry Clinton,
acamp between Broad River and the Catawba, Mated *c*vvegin
"October 29, 1780.
' omit
dated
Sir, Lord Cornwallis having been so reduced by
a severe fever, as to be still unable to write, he has
desired that I should have the honour of addressing
your Excellency in regard to our present situation.
But few days have past since Lord Cornwallis re
ceived your Excellency's dispatch of the 2Oth dof dBom^*of
September. In consequence of it, his Lordship
edirected that I should immediately send a letter to
meet Major-General Leslie in the Chesapeak ; giving
him the fullest information respecting our prospects,
and the present temper of the country, I have the
honour to inclose a copy of that letter. Something
remains to be said in addition to it, of a nature which
fEarl Cornwallis judged inexpedient to unveil, except-
ing to your Excellency.
For some time after the arrival of his Majesty's
troops at Camden, repeated messages were sent to
head quarters, by the friends of government in North
Carolina, expressing their impatience to rise and join
278 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the King's standard. The impossibility of subsisting
that additional force at Camden, and the accounts
which they themselves gave of the distressing scarcity
of provisions in North Carolina, obliged Lord Corn-
wallis to entreat them to remain quiet, till the new
crop might enable us to join them. In the mean
time General Gates's army advanced. We were
greatly surprised, and no less grieved, that no infor-
whatsoever ma^on awhatever of its movements was conveyed to
us by persons so deeply interested in the event as the
North Carolina Loyalists. Upon the i6th of August
that army was so entirely dispersed, that it was
clear no number of them could for a considerable
time be collected. Orders were therefore dispatched
to our friends, stating that the hour, which they had
so long pressed, was arrived ; and exhorting them to
stand forth immediately, and prevent the re-union of
the scattered enemy. Instant support was in that
case promised Hhem. In the fullest confidence that
this event was to take place, Lord Cornwallis ven
tured to press your Excellency for co-operation in the
Chesapeak, hoping that the assistance of the North
Carolinians might eventually furnish a force for yet
farther efforts. Not a single man, however, at
tempted to improve the favourable moment, or
obeyed that summons for which they had before been
so impatient. It was hoped that our approach might
get the better of their timidity ; yet during a long
period, whilst we were waiting at Charlotteburgh for
our stores and convalescents, they did not even
furnish us with the least information respecting the
force collecting against us. In short, Sir, we may
have a powerful body of friends in North Carolina, —
and indeed we have cause to be convinced, that many
of the inhabitants wish well to his Majesty's arms ;
but they have not given evidence enough either of
^eir 'number or their activity, to justify the stake of
of their this province, for the uncertain advantages that might
attend immediate junction with them. There is
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 279
&reason to believe that such must have been the
ri«lr bJ -2-3 reason to
™~ ' conceive
Whilst this army lay at Charlotteburgh, George-
Town was taken from °the militia by the rebels ; and
the whole country to the east of the Santee, gave
such proofs of general defection, that even the militia
of the High Hills could not be prevailed upon to
join a party of troops who were sent to protect our
boats upon the river. The defeat of Major Ferguson,
had so dispirited this part of the country, and indeed
the loyal subjects were so wearied by the long con
tinuance of the campaign, that Lieutenant-colonel
Cruger, (commanding at Ninety-six) sent information
to dEarl Cornwallis, that the whole district had de-
termined to submit as soon as the rebels should enter
it. From these circumstances, from the consideration
that delay does not extinguish our hopes in North
Carolina ; and from the long fatigue of the troops,
which made it seriously requisite to give some re
freshment to the army ; 6Earl Cornwallis has resolved
to remain for the present in a position which may
secure the frontiers without separating his force. In
this situation we shall be always ready for movement,
whensoever opportunity shall recommend it, or cir
cumstances require it. But the first care must be to
put Camden and Ninety-six into a better state of de
fence, and to furnish them with ample stores fand salt tBreadso{
provisions. gEarl Cornwallis foresees all the diffi-
culties of a defensive war. Yet his Lordship thinks
they cannot be weighed against the dangers which must
have attended an obstinate adherence to his former
plan.*'5 I am instructed by hEarl Cornwallis to express,
la yes my good Lord Rawdon 4a notwithstanding all these
such has proved the Risk opinions his Lordship forgets
2c alas my good Lord did them all & a few weeks after
not this reasoning operate still marches into N. Carolina leaving
more after Cowpens. South Carona under still worse
3d how clearly his Lordship saw circumstances than it ever had
the fatal consequences that would been since we had taken it.
attend L.C. march into N. Caro- 5c what induced him to
lina. think otherwise after Cowpens.
280
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a F omits in
that parti
cular
b F inserts
the
c BF insert
tlmt
d B aubwith
the highest
Respect
Your Excel
lency's most
Obedt &
most hum
ble Servant
Eawdon
e F ends
in the strongest6 terms,7 his Lordship's feelings,8 with
regard to the very9 effectual measures which your Ex
cellency had taken to forward his operations. His
Lordship hopes that his fears of abusing your Ex
cellency's goodness ain that particular, may not have
led him to neglect making use of a force intended by
your Excellency to be employed by him. But as his
Lordship knew not how far your Excellency might
aim at other objects in the Chesapeak (to which
point his Lordship's entreaty for co-operation was
originally confined) he could not think of assuming
the power to order Major-general Leslie tob Cape Fear
river; though he pointed out the utility of the
measure, in case it should be conceived within the
extent of your Excellency's purpose.
Lord Cornwallis farther desires me to say0 he feels
infinitely obliged by the very flattering testimonies of
approbation with which your Excellency has been
pleased to honour his success on the i6th of August.
He has signified your Excellency's thanks to the
officers and men, who received them with grateful
acknowledgement. I have the honour to be,d &c.
(Signed)
f seen. 355
6d strongest terms underlined.
7d if his Lordship argued
thus before the misfortune of
Cowpens, a plus forte raison after
it he there reasons operated ten
fold, but this proves the difference
between the influence he was
under at the different periods,
Honour, Integrity, Capacity and
a thorough knowledge of the
Carte du pais he had in L.R. in
C.R. it was very different. 17.
8d feelings underlined.
9d very to operations under
lined.
246 : RAWDON to CLINTON, 29 October 1780, Copy PA 139/85,
Endorsed Copy Colonel Lord Eawdon to Sir Henry
Clinton K.B. Camp between Broad River & Catawba
October 2Qth 1780 Recd ^ the Beaumont 5 Decem
ber 1780 N° 9 In Sir Henry Clintons N° i i2.f
as No. 24 with variations shown in margins pp 277-280.
24F: RAWDON to CLINTON, 29 October 1780, Copy m 19/48.
Same as No. 24 with variations shown in margins pp 277-280.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 281
25 CLINTON TO GERMAIN, 30 October 1780, LS PA 138/501.
NARRATIVE [97] _p 57, with Clinton's MS. Note.
Endorsed New York 3Oth Oct° 1 780 Sir Henry Clinton.
N° 107 R/ 30th November. 8 Inclosures.a Entd »«*«.3«
N° 107. New York, October 3Oth 1780.
bMy Lord, I have the honor to acknowledge the bF&^i/w
receipt of Your Lordship's Original Dispatch marked
N° 66, and Separate one of the 22d July, also Dupli
cates of those marked, 63, 64, and 65, of Your Secret
and Separate Letters of the 4th July, with that of
Your Private Letter of the 5th and Circular one of
the 8th of that Month, — together with Two Original
Letters, addressed to Vice Admiral Arbuthnot and
myself, dated the 3d °of August, by the Swift Packet, c F omits of
which arrived here on the 1 2th Instant.
I have the pleasure to acquaint Your Lordship
that the Fleet from England under Convoy of His
Majesty's Ships Hyena and Adamant, with Recruits
and Stores for dthis Army, arrived here safe, after a
favorable Passage, on the 15th Instant; and I have
the honor to transmit Returns of the State and
Number of Recruits received by this Opportunity.
Although I have received no Authentic Accounts
from the Southward since Lord Cornwallis's Letter
of the 29th eof August, (a Copy of which I have the
honor to transmit,) yet I think it my duty to send to
Your Lordship, some Extracts from Rebel News
Papers lately received, without giving any Opinion
upon them, except the improbability of any thing
very important having happened in that Quarter, as
it appears ffrom that Letter that his Lordship did not F reads
seem inclined to make any such Detachment from
his Army without supporting it. — Should Major
Ferguson, however, have met with a little Cheque,
I hope it will not be productive of any very bad
consequences, as I trust his Lordship's Abilities will
soon recover it ; to which the Expedition under
Major General Leslie may in some degree contribute.
A Copy of my Instructions to that General Officer, I
36
282 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
have already had the honor of Communicating to
your Lordship. Major General Leslie sailed from
hence on the i6th, and I understand was seen
a F omits on entering the Chesapeak aon the 1 8th, with a fair wind,
so that he would probably be on James River on the
2Oth, and consequently interrupt Mr Gates's Communi
cation with Virginia, and I hope strike at his grand
Depot at Petersburg soon after. Should General
Leslie be so fortunate to succeed, it may be presumed
Mr Gates will be prevented from pursuing offensive
Operations ; but should he already have received
Supplies to enable him to make a Move with the
Army he shall have collected, I am persuaded Lord
Cornwallis with the assistance of the Cooperating
Corps under Major General Leslie, which I have
given entirely to his Lordship's Orders, will pursue
such Measures as may oblige Mr Gates to retire from
those Provinces : Lord Cornwallis was informed by
me previous to General Leslie's sailing upon this
Expedition of that General Officer's being to act from
his Lordshiprs Orders, and I sent him at the same
time a Copy of my Instructions to General Leslie.
By the Present opportunity I have the honor to
transmit to Your Lordship some Original Dispatches
which were lately intercepted in a Rebel Mail, we
were lucky enough to take entire, and contain matters
of no small importance. — The Letters now sent appear
to be such as are of the most consequence ; those that
are less so, shall be transmitted to Your Lordship by
the next opportunity.
^•B begins bj shall in a few days send to Charles-Town, all the
whteh wm Recruits belonging to the Southern Army, °and then,
efghThun- inducing the Corps under General Leslie1, Lord
died Cornwallis will have full 11,306, Effective rank and
A Bends £le under his Orders/ Washington has not as yet
detached a single Man to the Southward, and by all
Accounts from General Arnold, Gates cannot have
above 800 Continental Troops with him.
la Gen. Leslie 3500.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 283
General Washington still remains at, or near
Tapaan, with a Corps of 11400 Men under his
immediate Orders. The French have not moved
from Rhode Island, but are adding Fortifications to
that Place. — Admiral Arbuthnot is Watching Monsr
Ternay. — While we remain superior at Sea, and can
Command the Sound of Long Island, I do not think
the Enemy will attempt anything against us: but should
they get the Command of the Sound, Your Lordship
must be sensible that my present Force is very inade
quate to that which can be brought against ame. a F reads u»
Major Harnage of the 62d Regiment will have the
honor of delivering my Dispatches. This Officer's
Services with the Northern Army will, I doubt not,
insure him Your Lordship's favor and Protection.1"
I have the honor to be With the greatest Respect
Your Lordship's Most obedient and Most humble
Servant H. CLINTON.
P.S. — I must observe to Your Lordship, that in
the Effectives that I have stated as under the Orders
of Earl Cornwallis, the Sick are included, and I am
afraid their Numbers are not inconsiderable. — H. C.
Right Honorable Lord George Germain.
258: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 30 October 1780, NARRATIVE [97]^ 57.
With Clintorts Manuscript Note.
Extract from Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord
George Germain.
This extract from No. 25 is shown in margin p 282.
25F: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 30 October 1780, Copy PA 308/183.
In margin New York 3Oth October 1780. Sir Henry
Clinton. (N° 107) R/ 3Oth Novr.
Mem. at end Inclosures i. Return of Officers & Re
cruits &c 2. State of Recruits &c 3. Lord Corn
wallis to Sir H. Clinton 4. Extract from several
Rebel News Papers 5. Copy of an intercepted Letter
&c 6. Intercepted Dispatches &c 7. L)o 8. An
Intercepted Letter &c
Same as No. 25 with variations shown in margins pp 281-283.
284 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
26 RAWDON TO CLINTON, 31 October 1780, ALS BI 19/49.
OBSERVATIONS [43 Ap'x] p 128.
Endorsed Copy sent home Lord Rawdon to Sir H.
Clinton K.B. Camp between Broad River & Catawba
October 3ist 1780 recd ¥ the Beaumont the 5th
Decr I78°- N°- io6-a
^insert* bCamp between Broad River & the Catawba,
csv begin South Carolina, Octr 3i8t 1780.
Comwallis's directions, I had the
Honor of writing to your Excellency on the d2Qth
Instant; detailing to your Excellency the circum
stances which had obliged Lord Cornwallis to relin
quish the attempt of penetrating to Hillsborough ;
& enclosing the Copy of a Letter which his Lordship
e Breads on made me write to Major-General Leslie 'upon that
occasion.
On further consideration, His Lordship reflecting
fB reason fupon the difficulties of a defensive war, & gthe hopes
which your Excellency would probably build of our
success in this quarter, has thought it advisable not
only to recommend more strongly to Major- General
Leslie, a plan which may enable us to take an active
part ; but even to make it his request, in case it should
not be incompatible with your Excellency's further
arrangements.
Lord Cornwallis is particularly induced to invite
hs inserts Major-General Leslie to co-operation in kCape Fear
river, by the supposition that your Excellency may
iFSrmrf not want 'these troops during the winter : kand *they
IE italics to may join your Excellency in the Spring, scarcely later
iv inserts than, should they on the approach of that Season, sail
m B omits from any part of mthe Chesapeak Bay.n
A further motive proceeds from the little prospect
that the Expedition on its original plan should com
pass any service adequate to its force, & to your
Excellency's expectations. However, as views might
subsist which were not explained to Lord Cornwallis ;
His Lordship has not ventured absolutely to order the
descent in Cape Fear River ; And the enclosed Copy
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 285
of the second Letter written to Major-General Leslie,
will satisfy your Excellency upon what terms the
measure has been pressed. I have the Honor to be
Sir, with the highest respect, Your Excellency's Most
Obed* & most humble Serv', *RAWDON.
H.E. Sir H. Clinton, K.B.b
Commander in Chief, &c &c &c.
26s: RAWDON to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [43 Ap'x'lp 128.
Extract. — From Lord Rawdon to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp between Broad Eiver, and the Catawba,
South Carolina, October 31, 1780.
This extract from No. 26 is shown in margin p 284.
26r: RAWDON to CLINTON, 31 October 1780, Copy PA 139/93.
Endorsed Copy Lord Rawdon to Sir Henry Clinton
K.B. October 3ist 1780 N° 10 In Sir Henry Clin
tons NO ii2.6 ojeeii-355
Same as No. 26 with variations shown in margins pp 284-285.
268: RAWDON to CLINTON, 31 October 1780, Copy PA 156/535.
Endorsed In Earl Cornwallis's of i8th December
i?8o.d(3)36. dM'il-356
Same as No. 26 with variations shoiun in margins pp 284-285.
26v: RAWDON to CLINTON, 31 October 1780, Copy HL No 36.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lord Rawdon to Sir
Henry Clinton, dated 3ist Octr 1780. Transmitted to
Lord George Germain In Earl Cornwallis's Letter of
1 8 Decembr 1780. R/ 17th Febry 1781. N° 36.
Same as No. 26 with variations shown in margins pp 284-285.
27 CLINTON TO LESLIE,! 2 November 1780, Copy PA 138/633.
OBSERVATIONS [27 Ay?x\ p 127, with Clinton's MS. Note.
Endorsed Copy of Instructions to Major Gen1 Leslie
dated 2d Novr 1780. N° i. In Sir Henry Clinton's
N° ICQ.* aseeii. 351
bCopy. New York 2d Novr 1780 bF^i«*
°Sir, Having already put you under the orders of c B besins
Id why does not L. Corn- tions to Leslie as well as my
wallis produce my first instruc- second, —
286 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Lord Cornwallis, who must of course be the best judge
of Operations to the Southward, it may be needless to
say anything more. But lest you should not receive
any orders from His Lordship, or obtain certain
intelligence relative to him, or have reason to
Suppose you can better assist his Operations by a
diversion made nearer him ; I think it necessary to
give you some hints respecting Cape Fear River, and
mlyead* now far the acting upon that River awill Operate,
Should Lord Cornwallis have passed the Yadkin,
and be advanced towards Hilsborough I think you
cannot act anywhere so well as on James River,
approaching sometimes towards the Roanoke but
not passing that River without orders from Lord
Cornwallis. If you have every reason to believe that
his Lordship meets with Opposition at his passage
of the Yadkin, I think a Move on Cape Fear River
will operate effectually. I have had much conver
sation with General OHara on this subject. I have
given him every Information respecting that Move;
and I trust after consulting him, you will act in the
}>~Bnotitaiics best manner possible to fulfill the object of ^all your
coruwaius*0 Instructions — ca Diversion in favour of Lord Corn
wallis. That you may be the better judge of his
plan, I send you Copies of such of his Letters, which
as stops give any hints towards it.d
Should you determine to quit Chesapeak, you will
apply to the Officer Commanding in the Naval Line,
to whom Sir George Rodney intends giving corre
sponding Instructions. As You will meet of course
in Cape Fear River a considerable number of Gallies,
Armed Vessels &c, I wish in case you quit Chesa
peak that all those now with you may be sent back to
CB continues us. cYou will of course cautiously avoid inrolling any
ZSHSm °f the Militia fof Princess Ann or elsewhere —
without you determine to Establish a Post. Those
however who voluntarily join you must be taken
HBc!fnton care o£g * nave tne honor to be, &c, &c, (Signed)
kpaub Honble Major General Leslie* H. CLINTON.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 287
278: CLINTON to LESLIE, 2 Nov. 1780, OBSERVATIONS [27 Aytx\p 127.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Second Instructions to the Hon. Major-general
Leslie, dated New- York, November 2, 1780.
This is two parts of No. 27 as shown in margins pp 285-286.
•
27F: CLINTON to LESLIE, 2 November 1780, Copy HL NO 31.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to
The Honble Majr Gen1 Leslie dated New York 2nd No
vember 1 780. Transmitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir
H^ Clintons of ioth Novr 1780 R/ 28th Decr N° 3 1.
Same as No. 27 with variations shown in margins pp 285-286.
.=020130030*= •
28 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [26 Ap'sc] p 127.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated
New-York, November 6, 1 780.
Your Lordship can judge of the strength of this
part of the army, by that under your own orders ;
and will agree with me that it is scarcely possible for
me to detach a greater force from it, or of our being
able to make such efforts in Chesapeak Bay, as are
now almost become necessary. However, when I
know your Lordship's success in North Carolina, and
your determination respecting a post on Elizabeth
River, I will then consider what additional force I
can spare.1 If your Lordship determines to with
draw that post, I shall in that case think your present
force, including General Leslie's, quite sufficient.
aBy the copy of instructions last sent, and those
now forwarded to General Leslie, your Lordship will
perceive I mean that you should take the command
of the whole. If my wishes are fulfilled, they are,
that you may ^establish a post at Hillsborough, feed it
from Cross Creek, and be able to keep that of Ports-
la Instead of sending me calls to himself 2700.
3000 men after his Campaign He
italics
288
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a BF not
'italics
bBFnoi
italics
c F runs on
d B inserts
Eespecting
e B inserts
they
f B reads
Operations
gB inserts at
hBrcarfsthe
i BF insert
II on p 289
'^'4 A few troops will do it, and carry on
desultory expeditions in Chesapeak, &till more solid
operations can take place ; — of which I fear there is no
prospect, without we are considerably reinforced. 5>6'7
The moment I know your Lordship's determination
to keep a post at Portsmouth, I will, as I said before,
consider what additional force I can spare. *0nce
assured of our remaining superior at seaf'9 I might
possibly send two thousand more for this winter's
operations.0
Operations in Chesapeak eare but of two sorts.10
Solid Operation with a fighting army, to call forth
our friends and support them ; or a post, such as
Portsmouth, carrying on desultory expeditions ;
stopping up in a great measure the Chesapeak ;
and by commanding James River, prevent the enemy
from forming any considerable depots upon it, or
moving in any force to the southward of it. Such,
my Lord, are the advantages I expect from ha station
at Portsmouth ; and I wish it may appear to you in
the same light.1
2d establish to Portsmouth
underlined.
3a Lord Cornwallis quotes
this passage as a prooff I approved
nay planned his move into N.
Carolina, but it is merely the
rebound of his own words as may
be seen Page 20.
4d when his Lordp had deter
mined on making a solid move
into N. Caroli to give that experi
ment a fair tryal I express my
wishes thus but I never could
approve of a Desultory move
such as he made after he had
lost all his light troops at
Cowpens and had destroyed all
his waggons to persue Morgan.
5a without assurances from
me of a reinfort or at least
without my approbation should
his Lordship have forced operation
there.
6d does not this clearly
prove that till we were reinforced
I had no Idea of solid operation
in Chesapeak & that till assured
of naval superiority I would send
very little
7d reinforced underlined.
8d Once to sea underlined.
9d unless we were superior
operation in Chesapeak must
prove -fatal. —
lOc The First cant be
attempted till we have recovered
North Carolina, or are sure of a
covering Fleet the last is always
necessary to favour opns in N.
Carolina.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 289
2 SB: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 6 Nov 1780, Extract PA 140/555.
Begins Extract. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis, dated New York November 6th 1 780.
This extract from No. 28 shown in margins pp 287-288 contains the
following additional paragraph : —
You may in that Case probably take up, for this Winter
at least, your Head Quarters there. As I have often
said, except as a Visitor I shall not move to Chesapeak,
without Washington goes there in great Force, which
he does not seem, inclined to do, nor indeed to send a
single Man there, except Greene to Command."
28r: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 6 Nov. 1780, Fr trans GERMAIN j9 180.
Extrait de Sir Henri Clinton, au comte Cornwallis,
datee de la Nouvelle-York le 6 nov. 1780.
This extract from No. 28, shown in margins pp 287-288, contains
the same additional paragraph,
29 LESLIE TO CLINTON, 7 November 1780, Extract PA 138/677.
OBSERVATIONS [31 Ap\v] p 128.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from The Honble
Major Gen1 Leslie to Sir H. Clinton KB dated Ports
mouth 7th Novr at Night, received 1 2th Novr In Sir
H^ Clinton's (Separate) of i2thNovr. 1780.*
Extract of a Letter from Major General Leslie to
His Excellency Sir H. Clinton KB. dated Portsmouth
7th Novr 1780, at Night.
b"This instant Lieu* Gratton of the 64th is arrived l*beffins
Express from Charles Town in His Majesty's Ship Iris,
with a Letter from Lord Rawdon — Lord Cornwallis
being a little indisposed.
I inclose Your Excellency a Copy of the Contents,
I called on Commodore Gay ton and Brigadier General
Howard for their Opinion how we should Act. We
all agree to go to Cape Fear as soon as possible, very
sorry it is necessary, but my Orders from your Excel
lency is to Cooperate and Act with his Lordship to
the utmost of my power.6
As a blind Pilots are ordered to be got for James
River, and nobody to be intrusted with our destination,
but those above mentioned.
37
2go
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
I shall write his Lordship of Our Intentions, and
there wait his Orders, and desire Balfour to send us
Provisions from Charles-Town.'*
v begins
begin
**Tytalics
293: LESLIE to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [31 Ap'ai] p 128.
Extract. — From Major-general Leslie to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Portsmouth, Nov. 7, 1780, eight at
Night.
This extract from No. 29 is shown in margin p 289.
30 GERMAIN TO CORNWALLIS, 9 Nov. 1780, Draft PA 157/495.
REPLY [9] p 143. With Clinton's MS. Notes from GERMAIN.
Endorsed Dra* to Earl Cornwallis Whitehall 9th Novr
1780 (N° i.) Entd Dup.
^o j;j Whitehall, 9* Novr 1780.
-^ar^ Cornwallis, bMy Lord, °I had the very great
pleasure to receive from Captain Eoss who arrived
in London on the 9th of last Month, your Lord
ship's dispatches Ns i. and 2. which I immediately
^a^ before the King who read dwith the highest
satisfaction the Account contained in the latter of
the every glorious and complete Victory obtained by
your Lordship over the rebels near Camden on the
f B omits of ! 5th fof August.
gThe great Superiority of the Enemy1 in Numbers
over the Forces under your Command, His Majesty
observed, distinguished this Victory from all that
have been atchieved since the Commencement of
the Rebellion ; and though it might have been ex
pected that the long Continuance of the War would
have increased the Military Skill and Discipline of
the Enemy2 your Lordship's complete Success is a
1 a la premire combat qui a nord sont au contraire robuste et
donn6 dans la Caroline, — [at the
first battle which took place in
Carolina, — ]
2 le Gens du paye sont en
generalle De miserables sans force
du corps ou d'ame. les gens du
valliant. [the people of the conn-
try in general are wretched, with-
out strength of body or of mind.
The people of the north are on the
contrary robust and valiant .]
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 291
brilliant Testimony that the Spirit & Intrepidity of
the King's Troops will always triumph over them,
and that however they may exceed in Numbers, the
Vigor and Perseverance of the British Soldiers will
overcome all Resistance, when led on by an able
and determined Commander, seconded by gallant
and judicious Officers ; It is therefore particularly
pleasing to me to obey His Majesty's Commands by
signifying to your Lordship His Royal Pleasure that
you do acquaint the Officers and Soldiers of the brave
Army under your Command that their Behaviour
upon that glorious day is highly approved by their
Sovereign, and you will particularly express to
Lord Rawdon Lieutenant Colonels Webster and
Tarleton His Majesty's Approbation of their judi
cious and spirited Conduct.3 The latter indeed has
a double Claim to Praise for his great Alertness in
overtaking General Sumpter's detachment before
they were apprized of Gates's defeat, and by their
destruction rendering the Victory at Camden still
more decisive. Captain Ross's Services have been
rewarded in consequence of your Lordship's Recom
mendation with a Brevet of Major,* but you will a BEER ^
perceive by the inclosed Copy of Lord Amherst's
Letter to me that it is not judged fit at present to
give Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton the same Rank in
the Army which he holds in the Provincials.
bThe steps your Lordship immediately took for
"improving your Victory dwere highly judicious
and must be attended with the most important
Consequences, nor was your determination to in-
flict exemplary punishment on those Traitors who
had repeated the Violation of their Oaths of Alle
giance or broken their Parole and taken Arms
3 Ce sont des complimens are the customary compliments in
dusage dans les Cabinets mais Cabinets but Lord Cornwallis has
Milord Cornwallis a merite bien well deserved such praises by his
ces elosges par sa decision, avant decision before the action and his
1'affaire, et son scavoir faire skill and address in that day's
dans le combat de ce jour. [ These combat.']
292 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
against the King, less wise or promotive of the
great Object of the War, the Restoration of the
Constitution, for the most disaffected, will now be
convinced that We are not afraid to punish and
will no longer venture to repeat their Crimes in the
hope of Impunity should they be detected; and
those who are more moderate will be led to with
draw from a Cause which is evidently declining
before it becomes desperate, and they expose them
selves to the Consequences they may reasonably
apprehend will fall upon such as persist in rebellion
to the last.
aThe Civil Regulations you have made for South
Q^Q]^^ as far as j am informed of them by your
Lordship and Mr. Simpson, bappear extremely pru
dent and proper, and I am glad to find they are
satisfactory to the Merchants here who are deeply
connected with that Province. Such of the Civil
Officers as are in England have received Orders to
return, and the greatest Part will sail with the first
Convoy. As the Province is not yet restored to
Peace it is not judged proper to appoint a Gover
nor but as the Lieu* Govr is going out he can
exercise all the functions of a Governor in
Chief in consequence of His Majesty's Commis
sion to Lord William Campbell which devolves to
him ; and as it is the King's Wish to convince the
People of America that no Abridgment of their
former Liberties is intended but that they will be
restored to all the Privileges of their former Con
stitution, the Exercise of such Powers as it may be
fitting to allow the Civil Authority to possess, in
the present Situation of Affairs, being in the Hands
of the Constitutional Officers of the Province, must
have a good Effect. Your Lordship will, therefore,
endeavor to throw the Conduct of Civil Matters
into their former Channels, as far as you shall
officers"' judge expedient, to permit the Civil cOfficer to act.
I impatiently expect to hear of your further Pro-
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 293
gress, and that Sir Henry Clinton and Vice-
Ad miral Arbuthnot have found Means of sending
a Force into the Chesapeak, to co-operate with
you : for if that be done, I have not the least
doubt, from Your Lordship's vigorous and alert
Movements, *the whole Country South of the Dela- »B itati™ to
* (Jcimptiigu
ware will be restored to the King's Obedience in the (3«««*)
Course of the Campaign.b bB««k
I understand the Congress evade an Exchange of
the Convention Troops* with the Garrison of Charles
Town, under the Pretence that the Time of Service
of the greatest Part of it will expire in a little
Time, and the Men will, then be no longer Soldiers,
and not entitled to be considered as Prisoners of
War, and as the Expence of maintaining these
People is enormous, some Means must be found of
relieving the Public from it, and counteracting the
Chicane of that faithless Body.0 csvr««on
What appears to me the most practicable
Measures for these Purposes are, the inducing the
Prisoners to enter on board the Ships of War or
Privateers, or to go as Recruits to the Regiments in
the West Indies, or as Volunteers to serve upon
the Expedition against the Spanish Settlements
from Jamaica ; and Your Lordship will, therefore,
take the proper Steps for disposing of as many of
them as possible in these several Ways, or in such
others as may occur to you as more practicable &
effectual.11 I am &ca GEO. GERMAIN.6
* [From Germain] La convention dont il est ici question, est
celle de Saratoga par laquelle 1'armee du general Bourgoine se rendit
prisonniere au general Gates.
306: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 9 Nov. 1780, REPLY [g]p 143.
This is two parts of No. 30 as shown in margins pp 290-293.
3<DF: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 9 Nov. 1780, Fr trans GERMAIN p 4.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extrait d'une lettre du lord George Germain au comte
Cornwallis, datee de Whitehall, le 9 novembre 1780.
This is two parts of No. 30 as shown in margins pp 290-293.
294 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
308: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 9 Nov. 1780, Copy PA 432/184.
In margin Earl Cornwallis (N° i.)
The same letter as No. 30.
307: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, Copy SACKVILLE 9/183.
In margin Earl Cornwallis N° i.
The same letter as No. 30.
3OE: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, Extract LANSDOWNE 68/1.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain to Earl Cornwallis dated Whitehall 9th
Novr 1780. N° 27. ExExd
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain,
to Earl Cornwallis dated Whitehall 9th Novr 1780.
This is two parts of No. 30 as shown in margins pp 290-293.
3OR: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 9 Nov. 1780, Extract HL NO 27.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain, to Earl Cornwallis, dated Whitehall
9th Novr 1780. N° 27.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George Ger
main, to Earl Cornwallis, dated Whitehall 9th Novr
1780.
This is two parts of No. 30 as shown in margins pp 290-293.
31 CLINTON TO LESLIE, OBSERVATIONS [38 Ap'x]p 128.
Copy. — From Sir Henry Clinton, to Major-General
Leslie, dated New- York, November 12, 1780.
Sir, I have this morning received your dispatches,
and by that dated the yth instant, I observe your
intention of quitting the Chesapeak; and at the
requisition of Earl Cornwallis, made to you in a
letter written by Lord Eawdon, that you propose
going to Cape Fear River with the force under your
command. I entirely approve of your having obeyed
Earl Cornwallis's directions and desire on this
subject, which I hope will be attended with every
favourable advantage.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 295
It is not necessary for me to enter upon the
matter of your operations in the Chesapeak, as
they will now cease.
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed) H. CLINTON.
32 CORNWALLIS TO LESLIE, 12 November 1780, Copy m 19/51.
OBSERVATIONS [45 Ap'x^jp 128.
With Clinton's MS. Notes from OBSERVATIONS and TARLETON.
Endorsed Copy Lord Cornwallis to Major Gen1 Leslie
12th Novr 1780. N° 107.
Copy Camp at Winnsborough between Broad
River & Wateree, 12th Novr 1780.
Dr Sir, aYou will I hope have received some
Letters written by Lord Eawdon during my Illness. I
am now perfectly recovered and almost as strong as
ever. Had I attempted to penetrate into the further
part of N. Carolina, my small Army wou'd have been
exposed to the utmost Hazard ; and it wou'd have
been as impossible to have co-operated with you in
the Chesapeak as with Sir Henry Clinton at N York.
blf you come to Cape Fear, of which at present I have
little doubt, by the help of Gallies and small Craft
which will be sent from Charlestown, you will easily
secure a Water Conveyance for your Stores up to
Cross Creek. I will on hearing of your Arrival in
Cape Fear River instantly march with every thing
that can be safely spared from this Province which I
am sorry to say is most exceedingly disaffected, to join
you at Cross Creek. "We1 will then give our Friends
in N. Carolina a fair Trial. If they2 behave like
Men it may be of the greatest Advantage to the
Affairs of Britain. If they are as3'4 ddastardly &
pusilanimous as our Friends to the Southward we
must leave them to their Fate e& secure5 what fthey ^italics to
IdO We to trial underlined. 3bcdO dastardly.
2dO they to advantage under- 4T dastardly.
lined. 5dO and secure underlined.
2Q6 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
have got/6 If you find it difficult from contrary
bs reads to ^jn(^s binto get into Cape Fear, the Entrance of which
is not easy to Vessels coming from the Northward,
shoUT*8 by the projection of the Frying Pan cShoe it will be
IB stops very little out of your way to look into Charles Town.d
And perhaps, tho7 not probably Balfour may give you
the 64*, instead of some of the Corps d'Elite, which
es continues vou ]^ave brought with you. 6At any rate we may
t^\{eadi settle our Operations more fully, & you fmay enter
Cape Fear River with every Assistance that can be
procured from them. All the Men of War with you
except the Romulus can go into Cape Fear if wanted ;
but I believe that will not be the Case, and the Sand
wich will be of more use than any of them. I can
only say that I most impatiently long for the day of
g s ends meeting with You.g
I cannot help now mentioning a Thing which has
given me the greatest Concern. Some of my Letters
from the Northward have made me suspect that you
thought that your Removal from Carolina was owing
to an Application to me. I most solemnly declare
upon my honor that nothing can be more false.
When I came to Town after the Surrender Sir Henry
mentioned my going with him to the Northward. I
said that I was ready to serve wherever he thought
fit to employ me & had no Objection to remain in
Carolina, if he thought my Services could be usefull
in that Province. He said something Civil about
the Climate. He then wished me to take this
Command. However painful & distressing my
Situation has been, & however dark the Prospect
then was, it cannot be supposed that as a Military
Man, I shou'd not rather chuse to command to the
Southward than be third at New York. But so far
from expressing a Desire to have any other Officer
remain with me in preference to you, I shou'd have
6dQ this letter was written a promise in case of failure of
before the defeat of Tarlton, does falling back on South Carolina to
it not imply a fair solid tryal & secure it.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 297
wished for you in preference to all others. But I
did not presume to interfere in any Degree with Sir
Henry's Arrangements, nor did I say more or express
myself stronger on the Subject of my own saying
than I have described in this Letter. I shall there
fore hope that we shall meet with the same Cordiality
& continue on the same footing of Friendship which
has hitherto subsisted between us, £ that you will
believe me to be &c
(Signed) CORNWALLIS.
Honble Major Gen1 Leslie
326: CORNWALLIS to LESLIE, OBSERVATIONS [45 Ap'x] p 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Major-general
Leslie, dated Camp at Winnesborough, between
Broad River and Wateree, November 12, 1780.
This extract from No. 32 is shown in margins pp 295-296.
32F: CORNWALLIS to LESLIE, 12 November 1780, TARLETON p 241.
With Clintons Manuscript Note.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Major-general
Leslie, dated camp at Wynnesborough, Nov. i2th,
1780.
This extract from No. 32 is shown in margins pp 295-296.
328: CORNWALLIS to LESLIE, 12 Nov. 1780, Extract PA 139/101.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Major General Leslie dated Camp at Winsborough,
between Broad River & Wateree, November 12th
1780. N° 12. In Sir Henry Clintons N° ii2.a
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lieu* General The
Earl Cornwallis to Major General Leslie, dated,
Camp at Winsborough, between Broad River &
Wateree, November 12th 1780.
This extract from No. 32 is shown in margins pp 295-296.
33 LESLIE TO CLINTON, 19 November 1780, Copy HI 19/46.
OBSERVATIONS [38 Aj?x\p 128.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from The Honble M. Gen1
Leslie to Sir H. Clinton K.B. dated Hampton Road
38
2g8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
VirgaNovr 19th 1780. received the 28th Novr 1780.
N° 103.
N° 4. On board the Eomulus
Hampton Eoad 19* Novr 1780.
Sir, I have the honor to send your Excellency
Duplicates of three Letters sent by Lieutenant Salis
bury of this Ship the 8th Instant — which I hope came
to hand.
I told you in that of the 8th that in consequence
of Lord Rawdon's Letter (the Original I now send
you, a Copy went by Mr Salisbury) that I had
determined to reinforce Lord Cornwallis as soon as
possible with the whole of my Command. Part of
the Troops embarked the nth. — al then fixed on a
Garrison to continue at Portsmouth as a Blind, the
15th I had all on board except 500 Men to Protect
the Dep^ Comm? General's Vessel that got on
ground at high Water, but by Exertion she was
afloat at two in the Morning, and the rear Guard
embarked, the Wind then came favorable, and
continued to bring us all into this Road — Our
Anchor was no sooner down, than a hard Gale of
Wind came on at N.W., and continued that Night
— and the following day, had we met it in Elizabeth
River most of the Ships would have got entangled
or aground, and might have been insulted by the
Enemy, but not a Shot has been fired, so they can't
say we are drove from their Shore.
b(The last twenty four hours was an unpleasant
time, for until then the Refugees, & followers of
the Army were ignorant of my design to Evacuate
the Place, however there was a necessity for it, &
no time was lossed.)
The Enemy are in some force at McKay's Mills
under a General Mulenburg, its between Suffolk &
Smithfield a strong Situation, when the Letter from
Lord Rawdon arrived I was meditating to get round
him by landing in two Divisions, the one in Nanse-
mond River, the other in Wfc Bay, this would have
{Br
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 299
created a delay of some days, which I thought too
precious to throw away on Mr Mulenburg.* »pn«wo»
As to Naval Matters I refer your Excellency to
Commodore Gayton's Letters, he has been most
attentive, and active on every occasion.
bThe People in general seem sorry at our leaving
this District, and I believe would have been happy
to have remained quiet at home, it is a plentiful
Country all round our Posts. From my first hearing
of Ferguson's fate, c/ inwardly suspected what came
to pass, therefore I never issued any Proclamation
of my *0wn, nor did I encourage the People to take
Arms, many blamed me for it, but now they think
I acted right.
I left the Works entire, and I still hopeeyou will
be fenabled to take up this ground, for it certainly is
the Key to the Wealth of Virginia & Maryland, it
is to be lamented, we are so weak in Ships of War,
for there's a Fleet of Sixty Sail expected hourly
from the West Indies, besides the valuable Ships
or Craft ready to Sail from the Chesapeak.g
Had we gone up the River we should have
benefited as Individuals, loaded with Plunder &
Tobacco, but I am confident we should have lost
some of our large Ships, for they get aground on
every Move, even the King's Ships, who never want
for Pilots.
hOne of my People sent to Ld Cornwallis fell into
the hands of the Enemy, they made him drunk, and
he produced my Slip of Paper, You will see it in
their Papers I imagine, it contained nothing of Con
sequence.
Since my last I am happy to inform Your Ex
cellency of the good behaviour of the Troops, and I
must say from the first being on Shore there has
Not been a Complaint of a single Hessian, it is a
most respectable Corps.
You will observe from the Returns, that the Pro
vincial Troops lose Men by Desertion, most of those
300 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
gone are Eecruits from the Enemy — they give now
for Militia Men to serve till 1782 as Substitutes,
from 4000 to 6000 Pound this Currency, and the
Dollar about One halfpenny Sterling which may be
the reason of those fellows leaving us.
The People in general seem tired of the War, and
wish for their former Ease and Comforts, indeed as
far as the Troops went, the Men in general were at
home, except the very violent, and those gone as
Militia Men, the better Sort in this Province are
deep in debt to the Merchants in England, and of
course violent to a degree.
aj am gorry fo observe the Women don't Smile
upon us —
In consequence of the Depredations committed by
the Seamen Transport & Privateers Men & Eefugees
&c in the different Creeks in Norfolk County, I left
with the Clergyman of Portsmouth 100 Guineas to
be distributed in small Portions to the poorer Sort,
who had lossed their all. I think this Money will
be well laid out, as it shews our intention was not
to distress them.b
I expect great Efforts from Col. Balfour as I told
him all my Wants, this goes in a Schooner of Mr
CP continues Goodricks, who has been very useful, cabout 20
Kefugees have come with us, I shall Arm the
Signed A.
Leslie I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient &
Most humble Serv1 (Signed) A. LESLIE.
N.B I am afraid the Move up the Delaware
Your Excellency did me the honor to mention has
not taken Place for I hear nothing of it —
had I continued a little longer here, I intended
taking 500 Men and going on a trip to Baltimore,
it could easily be done, it's rather early as yet for
they don't fill their Granaries quite so soon.
The want of small Craft & light Armed Vessels,
crampt us much, this is the finest Post for those
Excursions.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 301
I am afraid the Beaumond fell into the Enemy's
hands for she never returned.
I long to hear from Your Excellency, the more
so, as I shall be anxious to know if the Steps I
have taken meet with your approbation, Circum
stances must for ever make People alter their Plans
— I am not deficient in Zeal, whatever I may be in
Capacity.
Excuse this Scrawl — in regard to Provisions I
refer you to Mr Wier, we have enough if we keep
the Coast — every Precaution & (Economy has been
used to preserve it, and few Negroes taken on that
Account.
N.B.
This Instant I hear Govr Hamilton is drove back
to Hampton, something having happened to the
Sloop in the late Gale.
336: LESLIE to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [38 Ay?x~\p 128.
Extract. — From Major-General Leslie to Sir Henry
Clinton, on board the Romulus, dated Hampton
Road, November 19, 1780.
This extract from No. 33 is shown in margin p 299.
33F: LESLIE to CLINTON, 19 November 1780, Extract PA 139/97.
Endorsed Extract Major General Leslie to Sir Henry
Clinton K.B. November 19th 1780 Recd 28th Novem
ber N° 1 1 In Sir Henry Clintons N° i i2.a isee 11.355
This is three parts of No. 33 as shown in margins pp 298-300.
34 BALFOUR TO LESLIE, [November 1780], Copy RI 19/52.
OBSERVATIONS [45 Ap'od]p 128.
Copy Without date
aMy dear General, I wrote you a few Days ago
by the Express Sloop & have only to repeat that
the bSafety of this Province now, is concerned in your
getting as fast as possible near us.c
The Dispatches for Sir Henry Clinton sent by the
Beaumont are to explain every Thing that happened
302 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
here of late, the Requisition for your coming to
Cape Fear &c &c Therefore Lord Cornwallis wishes
by all means that they shou'd be sent by a Man of
War as quickly as possible, and if necessary an official
Requisition made for that purpose to the Officer
Commanding the Navy.
A Pilot is sent in the Beaumont and more will
be lying ready for you in the River when I know
any thing certain of you by the Iris ; as also all
sorts of good Things, Rice, Salt Pork, &c
I am in haste most faithfully (Signed)
N. BALFOUE.
Honble Major Gen1 Leslie.
»B continues *Gates is advancing as we are told towards this
Province & already near it.b
346: BALFOUR to LESLIE, OBSERVATIONS [45 Ap'x} p 128.
Extract. — From Lieutenant-colonel Balfour, without
date, to Major-general Leslie.
This is two parts of No. 34 as shown in margins pp 301-302.
35 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 3 December 1780,13 PA 139/393.
OBSERVATIONS [49 A$x\p 128, with Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Endorsed Duplicate Earl Cornwallis to Sir H. Clin
ton December 3d 1780 Recd by the Halifax Feb?
1 6th 1781. also endorsed Earl Cornwallis to Sir H.
Clinton, KB. December 3d, 1780 In Sir H> Clinton's
\see\\. 361 ]V"oTTna./, /O\
oneenclo- ±* 119. 4j. \O.)
****«'& ^Duplicate. cCamp at Wynnesborough Decr 3d, 1780.
c!fpynsci dSir, I am ejust honoured with Your letters of the
c?Py arf 5th & 6 of last Month ; Lord Rawdon during my ill-
ness informed Your Excellency in his letters of the
28th & 3ist fof October, of the various causes which
prevented my penetrating into N. Carolina ; I shall
not trouble you with a recapitulation, except a few
words about poor Major Ferguson. I had the honour
to inform Your Excellency that Major Ferguson had
taken infinite pains with some of the Militia of Ninety
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 303
six, He obtained my permission to make an incursion
into Tryon Connty, whilst the Sickness of my Army
prevented my moving. As he had only Militia and
the small remains of his own Corps, without baggage
or Artillery, and as he promised to come back if He
heard of any Superior force, I thought He could do
no harm, and might help to keep alive the Spirits of
our Friends in N. Carolina, which might be damped
by the slowness of our Motions : The event proved
unfortunate, without any fault of Major Fergusons ;
A numerous and unexpected Enemy came from the
Mountains, as they had good horses their movements
were rapid ; Major Ferguson was tempted to stay
near the Mountains longer than he intended, in hopes
of cutting off Col : Clarke on his return from Georgia,
He was not aware that the enemy was so near him,
and in endeavouring to execute my Orders of passing
the Catawba and joining me at Charlotte-town, He
was Attacked by a very superior force and totally de
feated on King's Mountain.1
Wynnesborough, my present Position, is an healthy
spot, well situated to Protect the greatest part of the
Northern Frontier, and to assist Camden and Ninety
Six. The Militia of the latter, on which alone we
could place the smallest dependance was so totally
*disheartened by the defeat of Ferguson, that of bthat pirSed
whole District we could with difficulty assemble one
hundred, and even those I am convinced would not
have made the smallest resistance if they had been
Attacked. I determined to remain at this place until
an Answer arrived from Gen1 Leslie, on which my
Plan for the Winter was to depend, and to use every
possible means of putting the Province into a state of
defence, which I found to be absolutely necessary,
whether my Campaign was Offensive or Defensive.
la you thought it dangerous baw what must we think of your
my good Lord even to trust placing such a River as the
Ferguson's Corps on your left Catawba between you.
& on the same side the Cataw-
aB reads dl»-
irited
li reads the
openly
304 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Bad as the state of our affairs was on the Northern
Frontier, the Eastern part was much worse. Col.
Tynes who Commanded the Militia of the High Hills
of Santee, and who was posted on Black River, was
Surprized and taken, and his Men lost all their Arms.
tQol> Marion ha(j so wrought on the minds of the
People, partly by the terror of his threats & cruelty
of his punishments, and partly by the Promise of Plun-
der, that there was bscarce an Inhabitant between
the Santee and Pedee that was not in Arms against
us, some parties had even crossed the Santee, and
carried terror to the Gates of Charles-town. My
first object was to reinstate matters in that quarter
without which Camden could receive no supplies. I
therefore sent Tarleton, who pursued Marion for
several days, obliged his Corps to take to the Swamps,
and by convincing the Inhabitants that there was a
power superior to Marion who could likewise reward
& Punish, so far checked the Insurrection, that the
greatest part of them have not dared copenly to ap-
dB stops pear in Arms against us since his expedition.
The 63d Reg1 under Major Wemyss had been
mounted on indifferent horses of the Country for the
purpose of reducing and disarming the Cheraws ;
It had afterwards been sent by Lord Rawdon for the
security of Ninety six. When I sent L1 Col. Tarle-
ton to the Low Country, I ordered Major Wemyss to
come down to Broad River, eto keep constantly
moving on either side of the River he might think
proper, for the Protection of the Mills from which
the Army subsisted, and for the preservation of the
Country. Sumpter then lay with about 300, Men
partly fof Militia, and partly gof the Banditti who have
followed him ever since the reduction of this
Province, near Hills Iron works, between the Catawba
Brenan axi(^ Broad River, about forty miles in our front;
hBranan, Clarke and others had different Corps
plundering the houses and putting to death the well
affected Inhabitants between Tyger River and
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 305
Pacolet. Major aWemyss who had just past Broad
River at Brierley's Ferry, came to me on the seventh
of last Month and told me that he had information
that Sumpter had moved to Moore's Mill within five
miles of Fishdam Ford, and about twenty five Miles
from the place where b63d then lay, that he had
accurate accounts of his position and good Guides,
and that he made no doubt of being able to Surprize
and rout him. As the defeating so daring and
troublesome a Man as Sumpter, and dispersing such
a Banditti, was a great object, I consented to his
making the trial on the 9th, at day break, and gave
him Forty of the Dragoons which Tarleton had left
with me ; desiring him however neither to put them
in the Front, nor cto make any use of them during the GEomitsto
night ; Major Wemyss marched so early and so fast
on the night of the 8th, that He arrived at Moore's
Mill soon after midnight, He then had information
that Sumpter had marched that evening to Fishdam
ford, where he lay with his rear close to Broad River
on a low piece of ground. The Major immediately
proceeded to Attack him in his new Position, & suc
ceeded so well as to get into his Camp whilst the
Men were all sleeping round the fires, but as Major
Wemyss rode into the Camp at the head of the
Dragoons, and the 63d followed them on horseback,
the enemy's Arms were not secured, and some of
them recovering from the first alarm got their Rifles
and with the first fire wounded Major Wemyss in
several places, and put the Cavalry into disorder ;
The 63d then dismounted and Killed and Wounded
about Seventy of the Rebels, drove several over the
River and dispersed the rest ; The command how
ever devolving on a very youns: Officer, who neither
knew the ground nor Major Weymss's plan, nor the
strength of the enemy, some few of which kept firing
from the wood don our People who remained in the
enemy's Camp, and who were probably discovered by
their fires ; Our troops came away before day break,
39
306 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
leaving Major Wemyss and 22 Sergte & Eank & File
at a house close to the Field of Action. In the
morning those who were left with a flag of truce with
the wounded, found that the enemy were all gone,
but on some of their scouting Parties discovering that
our People had likewise retired, Sumpter returned &
took Major Wemyss's Parole for himself and the
wounded Soldiers. Major Wemyss is gone to
Charles-town and is in a fair way of recovery.
The enemy on this event cried Victory, and the
»EK<M»*« whole Country came in fast to ajoin bSumpter, who
"passed the Broad Eiver and joined dBranan, Clarke
&c J I detached Major Mc Arthur with the Ist Batta-
li°n °f the 7ist and the 63d Reg1, after having sent my
^ft fte Camp Lieu1 Money to take the Command of
it, to Brierley's Ferry on Broad Eiver, in order to
cover our Mills, and to give some check to the
enemy's march to Ninety six. At the same time
I recalled Lieu1 Col. Tarleton from the Low Country.
Tarleton was so fortunate as to pass not only the
Wateree but the Broad Eiver without Gen1 Sumpter's
being apprized of it, who having increased his Corps
to one thousand, had passed the Ennoree and was on
the point of Attacking our hundred Militia at
Williams's House, fifteen miles from Ninety six, and
where I believe He would not have met with much
resistance. eL* Col. Tarleton would have surprized
him on the South of Ennoree had not a deserter of
the 63d given notice of his march ; He however cut
to pieces his rear guard in passing that Eiver, and
pursued his main body with such rapidity that he
a*f°iyits could not fsafely pass the Tyger, and was obliged to
halt on a very strong position at a place called Black
Stocks, close to it ; Tarleton had with him only his
Cavalry and the 63d mounted, his Infantry and £3
Pounder being several miles behind ; The Enemy
not being able to retreat with safety, and being in
formed of Tarleton's approach and want of Infantry,
by a Woman who passed him on the March, and
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 307
contrived, by a nearer Road, to get to them, were
encouraged by their great superiority of numbers,
and began to tire on the 63d who were dismounted, !>
Col. Tarleton to save them from considerable loss,
was obliged to Attack, altho' at some hazard ; and
drove the enemy with loss over the River. Sumpter
was dangerously wounded, three of their Colonels
Killed, and about ai 20 Men Killed, Wounded, or taken.
On our side about 50 were Killed & wounded, Lieu18
Gibson & Cope of the 63d were amongst the former,
and my Aid de Camp Lieu1 Money, who was a most
promising Officer, died of his Wounds a few days
after. L1 Col. Tarleton as soon as he had taken care
of his wounded, pursued & dispersed the remaining
part of Sumpters Corps, and then having assembled
some Militia under Mr Cunningham, whom I ap
pointed Brigr General of the Militia of that district,
and who has by far the greatest influence in that
Country ; He returned to bthe Broad River, where he
at present remains, as well as Major Mc Arthur in the
neighbourhood of Brierley's ferry.
It is not easy for L1 Col. Tarleton to add to the re
putation He has acquired in this Province but the
defeating 1000 Men posted on very strong ground
and occupying log-houses, with 190 Cavalry and 80
Infantry, is a proof of that Spirit and those talents
which must render the most essential services to his
Country. — L1 Col. Tarleton commends much the good
behaviour of the Officers and Men under his Com
mand, and He particularly mentions Lieu1 Skinner
of the 1 6th Reg1 of Infantry, who does duty with
the Legion, as having distinguished himself. 'L1 Col.
Balfour by putting the Prisoners on board of Ships
dis enabled to spare the 64th Reg1 from Charles-town, ^ read
and sent them to secure the navigation of the Wate-
ree from Nelson's Ferry, and to communicate with
Camden. This is the present state of our affairs.8
Smallwood had been encamped from the be
ginning of last Month with about thirteen hun-
308 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
dred Militia, a Corps of 250 Continentals under
Morgan, and 70 Dragoons Commanded by Washing
ton about 1 2 Miles on this side of Charlotte Town ;
His front guarded by Davie and other irregular
Corps, who have committed the most shocking
cruelties, and the most horrid Murders on those
suspected of being our friends, that I ever
heard of; Gates joined him the Week before last
with about 12 hundred Continentals and Six &
Eighteen Months-men, and 300 Cavalry under White
and Armand ; Morgan's Infantry and Washington
with 100 Cavalry, came down on the ist, in the even
ing to Attack a Block house built by Col. Rugeley,
in which he had placed ahimself with 100 Militia ;
with Lord Eawdon who Commands at Camden, and had
notice of their approach, sent to Eugeley to Order
him to retire to Camden, but He answered that as the
Enemy had no Cannon he was determined to defend
himself to the last extremity, and had no fear of being
taken. The enemy's Infantry did not advance
within six Miles of his Block house, but the Cavalry
surrounded it and Summoned him, and He instantly
surrendered without firing a shot. I am informed
that Green is expected in a few days to relieve Gates.
^continues bAs it will be necessary to drive back the Enemy's
army, and at the same time to maintain a superiority
E inserts on both our Flanks, and as I thought 6the co-operation
of General Leslie even at the distance of dthe Cape-
Fear River would be attended with many difficulties
I have sent Cruizers off the Fryingpan to bring him
into Charles-town, and I hourly expect his arrival.
« B new f eAfter every thing that has happened I will not pre
sume to make Your Excellency any sanguine promises;
IB italic* to fXhe force you have sent me is greater than I expected,
spare(2&nes) J . r
and full as much as I think you could possibly spare
unless the enemy detached in force to the Southward,
the utmost exertion of my abilities shall be used to
employ them to the best advantage.
Whenever our operations commence Your Ex-
e
that
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 309
cellency may depend on hearing from me as fre
quently as possible, and it is from events alone that
any future Plan can be proposed.*2 I haveb the honour * \ %% &c
to be,c with great esteem, Your most Obedient and (csof™iii3
Most humble servant, dCoRNWALLiS.fl oowHSuJ"
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B. &c &c &c JK1*^
2a about this time Col. Ross be seen as follows. T^uertt
returned to America, & it will (Signed)
e V ends
356: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [49 Ap'x~]p 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp at Wynnesborough, December 3, 1780.
This is two parts of No. 35 as shown in margins pp 302-4, 308-9.
35F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 3 December 1780, TARLETON p 200.
Extract of a letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camp at Wynnesborough, December
3, 1780.
This extract from No. 35 is shown in margin p 304.
353: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 3 December 1780, TARLETON £> 203.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Camp, at Wynnesborough, December 3, 1 780.
This extract from No. 35 is shown in margins pp 306-307.
35V: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 3 December 1780, LS PA 156/543.
Endorsed In Earl Cornwallis's of i8th December i78o.f f'ecii- 356
Same as No. 35 with variations shown in margins pp 302-309.
35E: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 3 December 1780, Copy PA 156/559.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton K.B. dated, Camp at Wynnesborough December
3d 1780.
Same as No. 35 with variations shown in margins pp 302-309.
35R: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 3 December 1780, CopyRi 19/59.
Same as No. 35 with variations shown in margins pp 302-309.
35M: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 3 December 1780, Copy HL No 43.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis, to
3io CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated Camp at Wynnes-
borough December 3rd 1780. Transmitted to Ld
Geo: Germain In Sir H> Clinton's of 27 Feb? 1781.
(8) E/ 25th April N° 43.
Same as No. 35 with variations shown in margins pp 302-309.
36 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, 13 Dec. 1780, Copy m 19/54.
OBSERVATIONS [46 .4p'#] p 128, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Duplicate New York 13th December 1780.
a B begms a^y Lord, I am honored with Your Lordship's Letters
of the 3d and 22d of September, by the Thames, which
arrived here the 1 2th Ultimo. And on the 5th Instant
I received by the Beaumont, those from Lord Rawdon,
b Estops) and c0ionel Balfourto General Leslie.b
As that General received Your first Invitation on
the 7th Ultimo, I naturally supposed that he would
have sailed very soon after to join You at Cape Fear ;
but am sorry to find he did not move from the Chesa-
CB continues pea]j_ before the 22d. Enclosed I send your Lordship
ABnewy a j^eturn of the Force that embarked with him ; dit
was all I could spare, and I thought it fully adequate to
the Services required. My first Instructions to General
Leslie put that Corps entirely subject to Your Lord
ship's orders ; el did not, I confess, however, suppose
it would move to Cape Fear. But having afterwards
too good reason to dread Ferguson's Fate, I in a
second Instruction recommended that Measure, as the
only Salutary one under the Circumstances I appre-
B runs on nen(je(j Ferguson's Defeat would place your Lordship/
By a letter of Colonel Balfour's to General Leslie
(without date) are these Expressions " I have only
to repeat that the Safety of this Province now is
concerned in your getting as fast as possible near
g Breads by us,, j should be sorry to understand gfrom this, that
the Province is really in danger. Wishing, however,
to give your Lordship's operations in North Caro
lina, every Assistance in my Power, tho' I can ill
spare it, I have sent another Expedition into the
Chesapeak, under the Orders of Brigadier General
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 311
Arnold, Lieutenant Colonels Dundas, and Simcoe.1
The Force by land is not equal to that which sailed
with General Leslie ; but I am not without Hopes it
will operate 'essentially in favor of Your Lordship, either
by striking at Gates's Depot at Petersburg, (which I
have still reason to think is considerable) or finally by
taking Post at Portsmouth, which I have ever con
sidered as very important, for Reasons most obvious.
If we take Post there, fortify, & assemble the Inhabi
tants ; it ought not afterwards to be quitted : and there
fore I cannot suppose Your Lordship will wish to alter
the Mestination of this Corps, without absolute ne-
cessity. °On the contrary I flatter myself, that, should
Your Success be such as Your Lordship will, I hope,
now have reason to expect, dYou will reinforce that
Corps, and enable it to act offensively. When that is
your Intention, I am to request that the following Corps
may in their Turn be considered for that Service, F^.The
Troop of 17th Dragoons, the Yagers, the Detachment
of the 1 7th Foot, and the Provincial light Infantry, &c.e fl B runs M
I need not tell Your Lordship that these Detach
ments have left me very bare indeed of Troops ; nor
that Washington still continues very strong — at least
1 2000 Men ; that he has not detached a single Man
as yet to the Southward, except Lee's cavalry
— about 250. I need not tell You also that there
are 6000 French already at Rhode Island ; but I
must acquaint Your Lordship that six compleat
Regiments more are expected, under Convoy of a
Number of Capital Ships. fWhatever may have {^nserts
been the Intention of the French in sending a
Reinforcement to this Country ,g I think, hhowever
the Season is now too far advanced to expect the howwer
last ; and, was I not clearly of that opinion, I
should scarcely dare detach as I do.1 iB runs °"
As I have always said, I think Your Lordship's
kMovements to the Southward most important; and as
I ever have done, so I will now give them all the
la I send still another de- in favour of L. Cornwallis of
tatchment into Chesapeak to act 2500.
k B reads
movement
312 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Assistance I can. It remains to be proved whether
we have Friends in North Carolina — I am sure we had
a B omits three years ago — That Experiment now will, ahowever,
bBitaiicsbe bbe fairly tried;2 if it succeeds, and we hold the
Entrance of the Chesapeak, I think the Rebels will
cBendt scarcely risk another Attempt upon those Provinces.0
I am very happy to find by Your Letter to
General Leslie, that Your Lordship is so well re
covered from your late Indisposition, which had
given me the greatest Pain & Concern.
As Your Lordship's Dispatch of the 1 2th November,
& Lord Rawdon's & Col1 Balfour's Letters to General
Leslie, brought here by the Beaumont, were addressed
on His Majesty's Service ; I took the Liberty to break
the Seals, supposing they might contain Intelligence
necessary for my Information.
Should your Lordship at any Time judge it ex
pedient to reinforce the Corps under General Arnold,
You will of course either continue it under his
Orders, or send any other General Officer you think
proper to take the Command, whenever you may
think such Alteration necessary.
I have the honor to be Your Lordship's most
obedient & most humble Servant
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis.
2a nothing more true than this. &
368: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [46 Ap'x] p 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl Corn
wallis, dated New York, December 13, 1780.
This is two parts of No. 36 as shown in margins pp 310-312.
37 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 22 Dec 1780, Copy RI 20/9.
OBSERVATIONS 1-2 [52 Ap1ai\p 128, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton.
Decr 22d 1780 N° 1 20.
lb compare this letter with 2d L C aid de Camp Capt
the proceeding. Ross had re- Ross had joined him with C. Bal-
turned to his Lordship and had four the day before the date of
advised him to hold this language this
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 313
Copy Wynnesborough 22d Decr 1780
aSir, I have the Pleasure to inform your Excellency 5 B tS
that Major Gen1 Leslie arrived with his whole Fleet *
at Charlestown on the 14th of this Month; with no
other Loss than the Dragoon Horses, and a great
part of those for the Quarter Master General. The
Species of Troops which compose the Reinforcement
are exclusive of the Guards & Regiment of Bose,
exceedingly bad.* I do not mean by representing
this to your Excellency to insinuate that you have
not sent every Assistance to me which you cou'd
with °Safety & Prudence spare from New York. cp™Ste
From the account which your Excellency does me andsafety
the honor to send me of the Situation & Strength
of Gen1 Washingtons Army, and the French Force
at Rhode Island, I am convinced that you have
done so. But I think it but Justice to the Troops
serving in this District to State the Fact; lest the
Services performed by the Southern Army shou'd
appear inadequate to what might be expected from
the Numbers of which it may appear to consist.
The Fleet from New York with the Recruits arrived
a few Days before Gen1 Leslie/
It was entirely owing to accident that so many
Oat Ships were left at Charlestown. They were
* [.From Observations^ When his Lordship made this remark, he
had not seen the troops. He must have, therefore, formed his
opinion from the report of others. But in justice to the corps who
are spoken so slightingly of, it is necessary to observe, that they have
all behaved in such a manner as to merit the applauses of the officers
commanding them, and one of them (Fannings) has obtained a
British establishment. 3
3a I believe it will be ac- originated in his Majts Cabinet
knowledged that the detatchment in Europe, many of the members
of 40 of the 17 dragoons were of which from various causes I
almost the only cavalry that could enumerate which rather to
acted with spirit at Cowpens. I see his Lordship in the command
could not help observing with than S. H. C. proves his Lord-
not less concern than surprise the ships willingness to take Respon-
great alteration in Lord Corn- sibility on himself suiting their
wallis language & conduct to- purpose better,
wards me, even to suspect it
40
3I4 CLINTON-CORNWALL1S CONTROVERSY
very near being lost in a Gale of Wind off the Ear,
& were obliged to come in to refit. I have ordered
some of them to be ready to sail with the first
Convoy; which will go as soon as the Officers of
the Navy think they can proceed with Safety.
As soon as the Victuallers are unloaded I shall apply
to the Commanding Officer of the Navy for a Convoy to
return with them to England taking also such Transports
as are unfit to continue longer in the Service, on board
of which the Invalids will be embarked.
The Want of Specie in this Province puts us
under the greatest Difficulties. Every method has
been pursued to keep the Money in the Hands of
the Contractors for Government, and to prevent the
Imposition of the Merchants. But the Sum actually
in the Province is so inadequate to the necessary
Demands, that we have scarcely been able to pay
the Subsistence of the Troops.
I do not quite understand the State of the Cartel ;
but the Number of Prisoners at Charlestown is a
great Inconvenience.
L* Colonel Balfour informs me that Major
Delancy requested in your Excellency's Name, that
he wou'd endeavour to procure some Horses to be
sent to Gen1 Vaughan ; but the great Demand for
the Service of this Province for Horses for Cavalry,
mounted Infantry & Quarter Master General's De
partment, has put it out of his Power to do it.
Cavalry Accoutrements at Charlestown are very
dear & bad, Shou'd your Excellency have received
from England more than are wanted for the Service
at New York, they will be very useful here.
I am afraid the Expence of quartering the
Troops at Charlestown will be very great but I do
not know how it can be avoided without breaking
the Capitulation in Regard to the Property in Town
I have the honour &c (Signed) COKNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 315
378: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [52 Ap'x] p 128.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Wynnesborough, Dec. 22, 1780.
This extract from No. 37 is shown in margin p 313.
38 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 6 January 1781, Copy RI 22/15.
OBSERVATIONS [54 Ap'x] p 129, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton January 6th 1781. N° 123.
Copy Wynnesborough 6th January 1781.
aSir, I am just honored with your Letter of the
1 3th ult°. I have written several Letters in the course
of last Month, to give your Excellency an account of
the State of the Provinces of South Carolina and
Georgia, and of the military Transactions. I fear they
are allstillat Charlestown, as no Opportunity has offered
of transmitting them to N. York. The present
Addition to the Naval Force in this Quarter, will, I
hope, enable me ; or, if I am too distant, L^colonel
Balfour, to transmit Reports more frequently.
bThe difficulties I have had to struggle with, have
not been occasioned by the opposite Army. 1<2 They
always keep at a considerable distance,3 and "retire 4 on °.B reads
J -T . r disappear
our Approach5 But the constant Incursions of Refugees, dB tuv} ^
North Carolinians, and back Mountain Men, & the
perpetual Risings in the different Parts of this Pro
vince ; the invariable Successes of all these Parties
against our Militia, keep the whole Country in con
tinual Alarm, and renders the Assistance of regular
Troops every where necessary.6 Your Excellency will
judge of this by the disposition of the Troops, which
I have the honor to inclose to you.
la opposite army underlined. Howe & afterwards when S G.
2d proves that his Lordship Collier left us, I never could get
was always superior. any of the naval chiefs to co-
3a considerable distance un- operate heartily. & if I had not
derlined. established Vessels called Bun-
4a printed disappear under- ners I should never have had
lined. any communication with the de-
5a From the hour Lord tatched Corps.
3i6 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
JoS* al shall begin my March to-morrow, (having been
delayed a few Days by a Diversion made by the Enemy
towards Ninety-Six) and propose keeping on the West
of Catawba for a considerable distance. I shall then
proceed to pass that River, and the Yadkin. Events
alone can decide the future Steps. I shall take every
b B ends Opportunity of communicating with Brig^Gen1 Arnold. b
I have directed L^Col1 Balfour to apply to
the Commanding Officer of the Navy to send
a Force into Cape Fear immediately and to embark
about 200 Men & establish some Post for the Pro-
c FSV ttop tection of the Victuallers and Vessels in the River.0
The Expression made use of in the Letter from
L* Col1 Balfour to Major General Leslie, was
only meant to convey his private Opinion of the
Necessity of his complying with my request ; and of
the Danger to which the Province wou'd be exposed,
if it was again left as destitute of Troops as in October
last ; He certainly had no Apprehensions whilst the
Army remained on the Frontiers. I can with Truth
assure your Excellency that L^Col1 Balfour,
does not hold the Language of despondency,
and that his spirited Exertions, & constant Attention
to the good of the Service, have rendered me the
most effectual Assistance.
In the hurry of Business your Excellency omitted
answering the following Paragraph in my Letter of
the 3Oth June. "Mr. Graham, L* Governor of
Georgia has presented an Account of Money advanced
for Refugees to which is added a Charge of 2O/- IP
Diem to the 24th of June as Inspect1 of Refugees in
Georgia. But as he informs me that his Commission
for that Office is not signed, I beg to know your
Pleasure whether this Account is to be allowed."
d FSV dl have the Pleasure to inform your Excellency that
TvSs the Army here, is perfectly healthy and in good Order.
iFaend (signed) CORWALLIS/
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 317
388: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [54 Ap'x] p 1 2 9.
With Clintoris Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Wynnesborough, Jan. 6, 1781.
This extract from No. 38 is shown in margins pp 315-316.
38r: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 6 January 1781, Extract PA 139/425.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lieu* General
Earl Cornwallis to General Sir Henry Clinton K.B.
6th January 1 78 1. In Sir H^ Clinton's N° 119.* 47. 12. E
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lieu* Gen1 Earl
Cornwallis to General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated
Wynnesborough 6th January 1781.
This is three parts of No. 38 as shown in margins pp 315-316.
383: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 6 January 1781, Extract PA 631/161.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lieu* Gen1 Earl
Cornwallis to His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B.
dated Wynnesborough 6th January 1781.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lieu* General Earl
Cornwallis to His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B.
dated Wynnesborough 6th January 1781.
This is three parts of No. 38 as shown in margins pp 315-316.
38v: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 6 January 1781, Extract HL NO 47.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lieu* General Earl
Cornwallis to Gen1 Sir Henry Clinton K.B. 6th January
1781. Transmitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir H?
Clinton's of 27 Feb^ 1781 12 E/ 25th April N° 47.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lieu* Gen1 Earl Corn
wallis to General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated
Wynnesborough 6th January 1781.
This is three parts of No. 38 as shown in margins pp 315-316.
39 LESLIE TO CLINTON, 8 January 1781, Copy RI 22/16.
OBSERVATIONS [56 Ap'oc]p 129.
Copy Camden 8th January 1781.
aSir, bl arrived here some Days ago with the
Guards, the Eegiment of Bose and Yagers. I went
to Wynnesborough to see °Lord Cornwallis. He
3i8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
aB reads moves *this Day, and I march to-morrow with the
to-day *
above Troops, & N° Carolina Regiment. I meet
herer"*rf* ^s Lordship about 70 Miles from bhence.
The Troops are exceeding healthy & the Weather
cBPSenrf nas been very favorable.0
As to News I refer your Excellency to your other
Letters. I find my good friend Captain Gayton
returns to the Chesapeak and Cap11 Barclay con
tinues at Charles Town, he was ready to go home
in the room of the Camilla.
I wrote your Excellency on my Arrival in Carolina.
I have the honor &c (Signed) A LESLIE.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton
396 : LESLIE to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [56 Apjx] p 1 29.
Extract. — From Major-general Leslie to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Camden, Jan. 8, 1781.
This extract from No. 39 is shown in margins pp 317-318.
39F: LESLIE to CLINTON, 8 January 1781, Extract PA 139/433.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Major General
Leslie to Sir H. Clinton K.B. Camden 8th January
a ,M ii. SGI ! 7g x . In Sir H^ Clinton's N° 1 1 9d ( 1 4.) E
Begins Extract of a Letter from Major General Leslie
to Sir Henry Clinton K.B. Camden 8th January 1781.
This extract from No. 39 is shoivn in margins pp 317-318.
393: LESLIE to CLINTON, 8 January 1781, Extract PA 631/163.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Major General
Leslie to His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B.
dated Camden 8th January 1781.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Major Gen1 Leslie to
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated
Camden 8th January 1781.
This extract from No. 39 is shown in margins pp 317-318.
40 CORNWALUS TO CLINTON, 18 January 1781, LS RI 22/18.
ANSWER [i]jp 84, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Lord Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton.
Camp on Turkey Creek, Broad River i8th January
1781. N° 125.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 319
aCamp on Turkey Creek Broad Eiver i8th Jan? 1781. S,S?cop
bSir, In my Letter of the sixth of this month I !
had the honour to inform Your Excellency, that I
was ready to begin my March for North Carolina,
having been delayed "some days by a diversion made ?<J"'
by the Enemy towards Ninety Six.1 General
Morgan still remained on the Pacolet, his Corps by
the best accounts I could get, consisted of about five
hundred men, Continental & Virginia State Troops,
& one hundred Cavalry under Colonel Washington,
& six or seven hundred Militia, but that Body
is so fluctuating, that it is impossible to ascertain
its number, within some hundreds, for three days
following ^ieu* Colonel Tarleton with the Legion
& Corps annexed to it, consisting of about 300
Cavalry & as many Infantry, & the Ist Battalion
of the 7ist Reg*, and one three pounder, had already
passed the Broad River, for the Relief of Ninety Six.
I therefore directed Lieu* Colonel Tarleton to march
on the* West eof Broad River, to endeavour to strike side w
a blow at General Morgan, &, at all events, to oblige
him to repass the Broad River. I likewise ordered,
that He should take with him the 7th Regim1 and
one three pounder,2 which were marching to rein
force the Garrison of Ninety Six, as long as he
should think their Services could be usefull to him.
The Remainder of the Army marched between the
Broad River and Catawba. fAs General Greene had
quitted Mecklenburgh County, & crossed the Pedee, I
made not the least doubt that General Morgan would
retire on our advancing. The Progress of the Army
was greatly impeded by heavy Rains, which swelled
the Rivers & Creeks ; yet Lieu* Col1 Tarleton con
ducted his March so well, & got so near to General
Morgan, who was retreating before him, as to make
la The last accounts I had had no reason to suppose you
from your Lordship are those of had the least intention of raarch-
the 2Qtli and 31 octr 80 Pages ing into North Carolina.
32 to 40 my observations, by 2a in all about 1000.
these the reader will observe I
320 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
it dangerous for him to pass Broad River, & came
up with him at 8 aA. M. on the 1 7 Inst : Everything
temorning nQw kore ^ mQ^ promjsing Aspect. The Enemy
were drawn up in an open Wood, and having been
lately joined by some Militia, were more numerous ;
but the different Quality of the Corps under Lieu*
Colonel Tarleton's Command and his great superiority
in Cavalry, left him no room to doubt of the most
brilliant Success. The Attack was begun by the
first Line of Infantry, consisting of the 7th Reg*, the
Infantry of the Legion & Corps of Light Infantry
annexed to it, a Troop of Cavalry was placed on each
Flank; the Ist Battalion of the 7ist,b and the Re
mainder of the Cavalry, formed the Reserve. The
Enemy's Line soon gave way, & their Militia quitted
the Field ; but our Troops having been thrown into
some disorder by the pursuit, General Morgan's
Corps faced about & gave them an heavy fire ; This
unexpected Event, occasioned the utmost confusion
in the first Line3, the ist Battalion of the 7ist & the
Cavalry were successively ordered up but neither
c s reads nor ^ne exertions, intreaties °or Example of Lieu1 Colonel
Tarleton could prevent the panic from becoming
general ; the two three pounders were taken, & I fear
the Colours of the seventh Regim* shared the same
fate ; In justice to the Detachment of the Royal
Artillery, I must here observe, that no dterrors could
induce them to abandon their Guns, & they were
all either killed or wounded in the defence of them.
Lieu* Colonel Tarleton with difficulty assembled fifty
of his Cavalry, who having had time to recollect
w!thead themselves, & being animated eby the Bravery of the
Officer who had so often led them to Victory, charged
& repulsed Colonel Washington's Horse, retook the
Baggage of the Corps, & cut to pieces the detachment
°f ^e Enemy fwho had taken possession of it, & after
destroying what they could not conveniently bring
3a from our flimsy order of it did not often happen.
2 deep and open files I wonder
CHRONOLOGICAL COERESPONDENCE 321
off, retired with the Remainder, unmolested, to Hamil
ton's Ford, near the Mouth of Bullocks Creek. The
Loss of our Cavalry is inconsiderable, but, I fear,
about 400 of the Infantry, are either killed, wounded
or taken. 1 will transmit the particular account of
the Loss, as soon as it can be ascertained.
It is impossible to foresee all the consequences,
that this unexpected, & extraordinary event may
produce,4 but Your Excellency may be assured, that
nothing but the most absolute necessity shall induce
me to give up the important object of the Winters
Campaign. al shall direct Lieu1 Colonel Balfour to
transmit a Copy of this Letter, by the first oppor
tunity, to the Secretary of State.
I have the Honor to beb Your most obed* & most
humble Serv* COKNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &ca &ca &cac
4a turn to your letters & your operations but the fact that
Lord Rawdons not above a month certain Ignorant evil councillors
prior to the date of this, what joined you, one of them lately
did you then think of a move from Europe you disapproved all
into N. Carolina. Even before the Comr in chief did, & which
you had levelled some of the you had approved before you
works of Charles Town & left claimed fruit as an cecconomist
that place open, or had lost all which you knew belonged to the
your light troops, which was the Commander in chief, & with less
case at Cowpens while acting means & less hopes than you
under the advice of that honor- ever had before & you move into
able & able officer Lord Rawdon N. Carolina for no other purpose I
all went well, you did justice am convinced than to receive the
to my zeal & exertions to assist Command from me
40B: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON", l8 Jan. 1781, ANSWER [l] p 84.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated
Camp on Turkey-Creek, Broad River, Jan. 18, 1781.
Same as No. 40 with variations shown in margins pp 319-321.
40F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 18 January 1781, TARLETON p 249.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated camp on Turkey creek, Broad river, Jan. i8th,
1781.
Same as No. 40 with variations shown in margins pp 319-321.
322 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
40 s: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 1 8 January 1781, Copy PA 139/429.
Endorsed Copy Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton
Camp on Turkey Creek Broad River i8th January
1781. Received ¥ the Halifax the i6th February
»«*ii. an In Sir H^ Clinton's N° i i9.a 48 (13)
Same as No. 40 with variations shown in margins pp 319-321.
4ov: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 18 January 1781, Copy PA 157/31.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton Dated i8th Jan? 1781. In Earl
Cornwall's of i8th Jan? i78i.b
Same as No. 40 with variations shown in margins pp 319-321.
4OE: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 18 January 1781, Copy PA 631/162.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton
K.B. Camp on Turkey Creek Broad River i8th Jan?
1781. received by the Halifax Sloop of War 1 6th Feb^.
Same as No. 40 with variations shown in margins pp 319-321.
4<DR: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 18 January 1781, Copy HL NO 48.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton dated i8th Jan? 1781. Trans
mitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir H? Clinton's of
2 7 Febry 1781. ( 1 3) K/ 25th April N° 48
Same as No. 40 with variations shown in margins pp 319-321.
41 ARNOLD TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [61 Apjx]p 129.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Brigadier-general Arnold to Sir
Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, January 23,
1781.
The line of works begun, which are necessary for
the defence of this place, your Excellency will ob
serve (by the plan inclosed) are very extensive, and
from the situation of it, cannot be contracted. The
engineer's opinion of them, and the number of men
necessary for their defence, against a superior force,
I do myself the honour to inclose. Lieutenant-
colonels Dundas and Simcoe, are clearly of opinion
with me, that three thousand men are necessary for
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 323
their defence. We have all been greatly deceived
in the extent and nature of the ground. There are
many places in the river much easier defended with
half the number of men. From the sketch of the
place your Excellency will judge whether our opinion
is well founded or not.
This province and North Carolina, are collecting
the jnilitia, undoubtedly with a view to pay us a
visit. Their numbers, from the best information I
can obtain, are four thousand or five thousand. At
present I can hardly imagine they will attack this
post, though the works are of no manner of service
to us ; and all our force cannot complete them in
three months : I therefore think it my duty to re
quest a reinforcement of at least two thousand men,
which would render the post permanent and secure
against any force the country could bring, as de
tachments could always be made (leaving the
garrison secure) to disperse the militia, whenever it
was found they were collecting ; and the advantages
of transportation, which we may derive from light
boats (of which I propose to build fifty) would
enable us to move with double the celerity, that
the militia could do with every exertion.
The country people have not come in, in num
bers, as I expected ; the necessity of General Leslie's
removing from this place, after their being assured1'2
of his intention to remain here, has impressed them
with the idea that we shall do the same ; which is
not easily effaced, as they have many of them suf
fered severely since his departure. I have not with
certainty been informed where he is at present —
Reports, which are contradictory, say at Cape Fear;
others that he is at Charles-town; and some say at
neither. I know not what opinion to form ; neither
have I heard from Lord Cornwallis, but by reports,
which say he is at or near Camden — No opportunity
la look to my instructions 2a assured underlined.
to G. Leslie.
324 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
has yet presented of writing to either of these gentle
men — but I am of opinion our diversion at Richmond
will operate much in his favour, as I am informed
the militia and light-horse, sent to reinforce the
rebel army, under Greene, have been ordered to return.
42 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [63 Ap'x] p 129.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to General
Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, February 5, 1781.
My Lord, I have the honour to inclose to your
Lordship the copy of a letter I have lately received
from Brigadier-general Arnold, by which you will
perceive that with scarcely one thousand men (for
several of his transports, that had been separated
on the voyage, had not then rejoined him) he pene
trated to Richmond, the capital of Virginia, and
has rendered important service, by destroying a
valuable foundry, a considerable quantity of public
stores, cannon, &c. &c. Indeed the whole of his
operations upon the occasion appear to have been
conducted in a manner which strongly marks his
character of a very active and good officer — and I
sincerely hope, that this important stroke will
essentially aid your Lordship's operations.
43 ARNOLD TO CLINTON, 13 Feb. 1781, Extract PA 139/385.
OBSERVATIONS [64 A$x\ p 129.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Brigr General
Arnold to General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated
Portsmouth 13th February 1781. recd the 19*. In
Sir B> Clinton's N° 119.* 7.
Extract of a Letter from Brigadier General Arnold
to General Sir Henry Clinton K. B. dated
Portsmouth 13th February 1781.
b"No time has been lost in repairing the old and
erecting New works here (in which the Negroes
have been very serviceable) but none are yet Com-
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 325
pleat. Repairing Barracks, foraging, and patroling
with large Parties, has engrossed the Time of a
great part of the Troops. One hundred Men are
posted at the Great Bridge. ''Lieu1 Colonel Simcoe,
with near Four hundred Men, are in Princess Anne
County, scouring the County of several parties and
arranging matters with the Country people.
The Enemy are at Suffolk with Two thousand
five hundred, or three thousand Men ; They threaten
an Attack bon us, but I cannot suppose them capable
of so much temerity ; We are prepared for them
at all points, and I believe nothing will induce
them to Attack us, but the hope of succeeding in a
surprize, and despair of keeping their tattered force
together, through want of Provisions, and the
necessity of their ploughing their Lands to prevent
a famine the ensuing Year.6
I have requested a Ship from Commodore Symonds
to send to My Lord Cornwallis — I have not received
an answer, but if she is furnished me, I intend pro
posing to My Lord, if the Cooperation will be of
Service to him, to send some Boats with four or
five hundred Troops thro' Curratucks inlet, to Sweep
the Albemarle Sound as high as Edington, & to go
to Newburn and destroy their Shipping Stores &ca,
while a few armed Vessels take Post at Ocracuck
Bar, and a Frigate Cruises without — This Movement
I am convinced will have a good effect, first, by
destroying the Navigation of North Carolina, and
thereby distressing the Inhabitants, and secondly by
taking off their Attention from my Lord Cornwallis
and General Leslie.
A number of my Boats are begun, & if Fifty or
one hundred Ship Carpenters and Boat Builders
could be procured in New York, or elsewhere and
sent here, they might be employed to great advantage.
I have sent Six Vessels under Convoy of a Frigate
to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, for forage, pro
vision, and Lumber"
b B reads
upon
326 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
February 14*
Yesterday at one o'Clock P. M. anchored in Linn
Haven Bay Three french Ships of War, one of 64
Guns and two Frigates, it remains a doubt where
they are from, and whether they are King's Ships
or Merchantmen, I believe the latter, tho' the Gen
tlemen of the Navy are of opinion they are the
former, & from Rhode Island; A Vessel sails this
Evening at my request for Charles Town to prevent
Commodore Gay ton, or any Frigate coming this way
bF ends from falling into their hands."*
436: ARNOLD to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [64 Ap'x~\p 129.
Extract. — From Brigadier-general Arnold to Sir H.
Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, February 13, 1781.
This extract from No. 43 is shown in margins pp 324-325.
43P: ARNOLD to CLINTON, 13 February 1781, Extract PA 606/152.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Brigadier General
Arnold dated Head Qrs Portsmouth February the 1 3th
1781.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Brigadier General
Arnold dated Head Quarters Portsmouth February
the 13th 1781.
Same as No. 43 with variations shown in margins pp 324-326.
44 CLINTON TO ARNOLD, OBSERVATIONS [67 Ap'x] p 129.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Brigadier-
general Arnold, dated New York, February 18, 1781.
Appearances at Rhode Island give me reason to
suppose that the ships seen last Wednesday were
the avant garde from that place. Should they pay
you a visit from Rhode Island, you may rest assured
every attention will be paid to your situation, and
that our movements will be regulated by theirs.
I am afraid Tarleton's affair is too true; but I
have reason notwithstanding to believe Lord Corn-
wallis is far advanced in Carolina.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 327
45 CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, ANSWER [34] _p 85.
&JBy the Eight Honourable * Charles Earl Cornwallis,
Lieutenant-general of his Majesty s Forces, §c. &c. &c. STL^*
By Charlea
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS it has pleased the Divine Providence
to prosper the operations of his Majesty's arms in
driving the rebel army out of this province ; and
whereas it is his Majesty's most gracious wish to
rescue his faithful and loyal subjects from the cruel
tyranny under which they have groaned for 'several
years, I have thought proper to issue this Proclama
tion, to invite all such faithful and loyal subjects to
repair, without loss of time, with their arms and ten
days provisions, to the Royal Standard now erected
at Hillsborough, where they will meet with the most
friendly reception : and I do hereby assure them that
I am ready to concur with them in effectual measures
for suppressing the remains of rebellion in this pro
vince, and for the re-establishment of good order and
constitutional government.
Given dunder my hand at head quarters at Hills- ftSHiii?&c'
borough this 2Oth eday of February, fin the year J °^°0^s
of our Lord 1781, and in the twenty-first year ^31 1731
of his Majesty's reign. gCoRNWALLis.
By his Lordship's command, H. BRODRICK, Aid de
Camp.
God save the King.h
45 B: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 20 Feb. 1781, TARLETONJP 256.
Same as No. 45 with variations shown in margin p 327.
45 F: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 20 Feb. 1781, Copy PA 157/209.
Endorsed Copy of a Proclamation issued at Hills-
borough, in North Carolina, by Earl Cornwallis. dated
the 20th of FebT 1781. In Lord Cornwall's N° 7.' yj°- 58 p
Same as No. 45 with variations shown in margin p 327.
453: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 20 Feb. 1781, Copy kRi 19/76.
Same as No. 45 with variations shown in margin p 327.
328 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
46 ARNOLD TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [65 Ap'x]p 129.
Extract. — From Brigadier-general Arnold to Sir II.
Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, February 25, 1781.
After my dispatches were closed (which were in
tended to go by the General Monk) three French
ships, one a sixty-four, the other two frigates,
arrived from Rhode Island, and anchored in Lynhaven
Bay. On the i4th instant they arrived in Hampton
road, and remained there until the iQth, when they
left the Capes, and are said to be now cruizing to
the southward of them.
Before the arrival of the French ships, the enemy's
force did not exceed two thousand five hundred
men, at Suffolk and in the vicinity, which was
greatly augmented soon after their arrival. On the
1 8th they came down in force, near our lines, and
surprised a piquet of six men ; but soon retired.
Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe with four hundred men
being in Princess Anne county, I did not think it
prudent to leave our works to attack them.
I have very good intelligence that the rebels at
Suffolk have been informed by express from General
Greene, that on the i6th or i8th instant, my Lord
Cornwallis crossed the Dan river, sixty miles above
Halifax, and one hundred and twelve from Peters-
burgh, with one thousand cavalry and four thousand
infantry, and was on the march for Peter sburgh.
Generals Greene and Morgan, with three thousand
or four thousand men, chiefly militia, were retiring
before him ; in consequence of which a considerable
part of their troops, have been detached to join
General Greene. I have not been able to ascertain
the number of troops remaining at Suffolk and in the
vicinity; I expect to do it in a day or two, in
which time every possible effort shall be made to
complete our works in such a manner, that a consi
derable detachment may be made to proceed up
the James river, with some ships to co-operate with
Lord Cornwallis ; and if he should have reached the
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 329
river, to furnish him with such supplies of provi
sions, £c. as we can spare, and his troops be most
in need of.
47 ARNOLD TO CLINTON, 27 Feb. 1781, Extract PA 139/481.
OBSERVATIONS [67 Ap'x~] p 129.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Brigr Gen1 Arnold
to Sir Henry Clinton K. B. dated Portsmouth Feb
ruary 27th 1781. In Sir H> Clinton's N° 120* 35.
Extract of a Letter from Brigadier General Arnold
dated Portsmouth February 27th 1781
°" I had the honor of addressing Your Excellency Jj***1*1
the 25th Instant. My Dispatches were sent on
Board the Bonetta, She was waiting for a fair
Wind, when I was honored with Your Excellency's
Letter of the i8th Instant which was delivered me this
Morning.d I have not the least doubt, that every possible d B beffint
Attention will be paid to Our Situation. We are
under no Apprehensions at present from the Force of
the Country, and if the French should detach from
Rhode Island to this place, I have not the least
doubt of defending it against the Force of the
Country and Two thousand French Troops, "till a
reinforcement can arrive from New York.
Tomorrow I intend Embarking some Stores, and
the next day about five hundred Troops, under the
forder of Lieu* Colonel Dundas, to proceed up
the James River, to make a diversion in favour of
My Lord Cornwallis."g
' P ends I
— ••• have the
honour
47B: ARNOLD to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [67 A.px]p 129. to be &c.
Extract. — From Brigadier-general Arnold to Sir H.
Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, February 27, 1781.
This extract from No. 47 is shown in margin p 329.
47F: ARNOLD to CLINTON, 27 February 1781, Copy HL NO 4.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy. Brigr Gen1 Arnold to Sir Henry
42
330 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Clinton K.B. Portsmouth 2;th Feb? 1781. In Sir
aseeii.364 B> Clinton's of Ist March 1781* (2.) (N° 4)
Same as JSo. 47 with variations shown in margin p 329.
48 CLINTON TO ARNOLD, OBSERVATIONS [68 Ap'x]p 129.
Copy. — Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Brigadier-general
Arnold, dated New York, March i, 1781.
Sir, I suppose of course that the admiral, who
knew your situation on the 2ist, and heard at the
same time, that the sixty-four and two frigates were
from Rhode Island, has detached to your relief; —
lest he should not, I have repeatedly pressed him to
do it since.
The French fleet has not yet sailed from Rhode
Island ; if it does, encumbered with troops, the
admiral will of course follow without incumbrance ;
and, when he has fixed them, it will be time enough
to send troops. In case a fleet should appear under
French colours, do not be alarmed, as I shall advise
the admiral to send in that manner, to deceive the
enemy.
There is information of from twelve to fourteen
hundred troops being at Brunswick the 27th of
February, on their way to the southward. These it
is our business to watch.
The troops which are all ready embarked, are de
tained till I receive certain advice that the French
ships are removed from the Chesapeak, there being
nothing here but frigates to convoy them.
I have received a letter this day from the admiral,
dated the 4th : he has given me no possitive informa
tion of the movements of the French ; he will
send a ship to observe their situation in Rhode
Island, and will proceed accordingly. Should he
call here, the troops will in all probability sail with
him ; if he does not, I shall send them as soon as
I know the way to the Chesapeak is clear.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 331
49 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, 5 March 1781,1 Copy RI 22/69.
NARRATIVE [5] p 9, ANSWER [5]^? 85 [Received June, 1781.2-3]
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes from ANSWER.
Copy New York March 5th 1781.
aMy Lord, I was honoured with your Lordships
Dispatches dated the i8th bNovr, the 3d 4th 6th ;th
22d & 29th "December, and 3d 6th and i8th dJanuary
by the Halifax Sloop of War on the i6th Ulto — And
by the Mercury Packet which will sail in a day or
two for Europe, I propose to transmit Copies of such
of them to the Minister, as may be necessary for His
Majesty's Information.
What your Lordship observes in your Letter of the
4th December, I am very sensible of; and am fully
persuaded that no representation I can make will
have any Effect upon men lost to every Sense of
humanity.
I am sorry to say my Lord, that I have the same
reason to lament the want of safe Conveyances for
my Dispatches, which your Lordship regrets in your
Letter of the 6th January having had several prepared
for your Lordship ever since the beginning of that
Month. And I am even now obliged to trust them by
the precarious Conveyance of a Merchant Vessel, as
I have in vain applied for a Ship of War for these
two Months past for the purpose.4
I request your Lordship's Forgiveness for the
omission I was guilty of in not answering the Para
graph of your Letter of the 3Oth June, relative to
Lieut Governor Graham. As there are now no
Kefugees in Georgia and of Course no occasion for
such an Office as that to which he was appointed ;
la reed by Col. Balfour the into Virginia.
6. of April, but he neglected to 4a had repeatedly apply'd
send it to L. C. for a frigate to convey my dis-
2b why not before. Col patches, but the Admiral could
Balfour reed & read it on the yth never spare one, he certainly was
April. the best judge how to employ
3a This is one of the letters the Navy but the land operations
which Lord Cornwallis expected suffered for want often,
from C. Town when he marched
332 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
and as he is now in full Possession of his Property,
and does not seem to wish for a continuance of the
Employment, it is very proper that it shou'd cease,
and but reasonable that Mr. Graham shou'd be
reimbursed athe Sums he has advanced as well as paid
his Salary of 2os. ^ Day for himself & Clerk from
the 3d of March to the Period he ceased to act.
It gives me very great Pleasure to learn from your
Lordship that the Army under your Command is now
perfectly healthy and in good Order.
I am sorry the Oatships met with an Accident off
Charlestown Bar. It is a risk in my Opinion which
ever) Fleet runs that Anchors there. Surely it wou'd
have been better for them to have stood off and on.
But of those Sea Matters I am of course not a com
petent Judge.
I am glad to find that your Lordship intends to
send the Victuallers and all such Transports to
England as are unfit for Service, their speedy Eeturn
being most earnestly desired.*
I wou'd wish to have all such Invalids, whose
Times of Service do not entitle them to Che] sea, &
tho' unfit for Service in the Field may be able to do
duty in Garrison ; sent here from Time to Time that
they may be placed in the Garrison Battalion which
will finally ensure to them His Majesty's Royal
Bounty.5
As I understand the Chatham, has brought out
.£50,000 in Specie to Charlestown your Lordships
Difficulties with regard to Money will have been
removed ; but I cannot say so much for ours.
Lord George Germain having inform'd me cthat as
Major Ross was of opinion that many of the Prisoners
jn our Hands in Carolina might be induced to serve
on board the King's Ships or in Privateers or enlist in
the Regiments serving in the West Indies, or go as
5a this explains my motive service as long as possible & they
for raising the G : Batallion, that at the end of it receive the King's
the public should have their bounty of Chelsea.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 333
Volunteers upon Expeditions in that Quarter ; he had
recommended to your Lordship to get rid of all you
could in those several ways, or in any other your
Lordship shou'd think fit to be adopted/ It is unne-
r . commas end
cessary for me to add any Ihmg upon that Subject?
but to say that I leave them entirely to your Lord
ships disposal.6
I wish it had been possible to have procured the
Horses for Gen1 Vaughan, as I fear the Troops may
suffer from the drudgeries they were intended to per
form.
I know not at present how it is possible my Lord,
to avoid the Expence of quartering the Troops at
Charlestown, consistent with the Terms of the Capitu
lation. But I will endeavour to find some means of
doing it if it is practicable.
bl am most exceedingly concerned My Lord, at the I>B%»W
Very unfortunate Affair of the xyth dof January.6 cv*romits
From the Account your Lordship gives me of it. I drom^of
i • A^PI i 6 B stops $
tear Morgan has been in very great r orce : that our
first Line has been too impetuous, and that the Re-
serve has sustainedf too nearly and probably in too
loose Order ; and that the Enemy has moved
against them in that critical Situation. gl confess I
dread the Consequences. But my hope is, as it ever
will be, in your Lordships Abilities and Exertions.1 h-B stops se
T i - 11 -i 11. • • continues p
I shall always be happy in paying every Attention 342 1 n
to your Recommendations in filling up the Vacancies
in the 33d Regiment, as I shall be constantly guided
by your Lordship's Wishes with respect to the Promo
tions of your own Regiment. I have already had an
Opportunity of fulfilling rny Intentions respecting
Col1 Webster, but this is too unsafe a Conveyance
to trust the Commission by. I have1 &c iF^th
Earl Cornwallis7 (Signed) H. CLINTON. b£*?H.
6a better have exchanged 7a I wonder his Lordship
them for our own prisoners but did not introduce here all the
this Mr Ross was ever busy in letters I sent to the care of Col.
some Plan to Clogg us. Balfour.
334 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
493: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 5 March 1781, NARRATIVE \$~]p 9.
Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Cornwallis,
March 5, 1781.
Extracts from Nos. 49 and 53 shown in margins pp 333, 342-343.
49F: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 5 March 1781, ANSWER [5] p 85.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated
New York, March 5th, 1781. [Received J une, 1781.]
Same as No. 49 with variations shown in margins pp 331-333.
50 GERMAIN TO CLINTON, 7 March 1781, LS RI 22/71.
REPLY [74] p 170.
With Clinton's MS. Notes from REPLY and GERMAIN.
Endorsed Triplicate N° 8 1 . Lord Geo : Germain to
Sir H. Clinton K.B. Whitehall 7th March 1781 re
ceived the 27th June 1781. Revolt of the Pensa Line.
Send an expedition to the head of Chesapeak. Board
of associated loyalists — to encourage refugees to go to
Penobscot. 156.
b IS* (Triplicate) aN° 8 1 Whitehall 7th March 1 78 1 l
nits to cSir, Since my Letter to you of the 7th dFebry, I
have received Your Dispatches 'numbered from 1 1 3 to
1 1 7 inclusive, and laid them before The King. fThe
Revolt of the Pensylvania Line and Jersey Brigade
though not attended with all the good Consequences
5 that might have been expected, are certainly Events
of very great Importance and must have very exten
sive Effects both in reducing Washington's present
Force and preventing its being recruited by new
^rnits Levies, gand as I doubt not You will avail Yourself
of his Weakness, and Your own hgreat Superiority,
to send a considerable Force to the Head of the
Chesapeak2 as soon as the Season will permit Opera
tions to be carried on in that Quarter, I flatter
myself the Southern Provinces will be recovered to
His Majesty's Obedience before the long promised
Succors (none of which are yet sailed,) can arrive
1R read in H. of Lords du Chevr Clinton. [The Kin
2G Le Roy approuve le Plan approves Sir H. Clinton's plan.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 335
from France, anda Mr Washington unable to draw
Subsistence for his Troops from the West Side of
Hudsons River,b be compelled to cross it & take
Refuge in the Eastern Provinces. °I am very anxious
to hear of Lord Cornwallis's Progress since General
Leslie joined him, I have no doubt his Movements
will be rapid and decisive, for His Lordship appears
to be fully impressed with the absolute necessity of
vigorous Exertions in the Service of this Country in
its present Circumstances. dThe Success of General
Arnolds Enterprize up James River which the Rebel
N ews Papers confirm, must greatly facilitate His Lord
ships Operations by cutting off 'Green's Supplies and
obliging the Militia to return to take Care of their
own Property :f Indeed gso very contemptible is the
Rebel Force now in all Parts, and so vast is Our Supe-
riority every where, that no resistance on their Part
is to be apprehended, that can materially obstruct the
Progress of the Kings Arms in the Speedy Suppression
of the Rebellion ; and hit is a pleasing tho' at the
same time a mortifying reflection when the Duration
of the Rebellion is considered, which arises from 'the iFrearfsa
View of the kReturn of the Provincial Forces You
have transmitted, that the American Levies in The
King's Service are more in number than the whole of
the Inlisted Troops in the Service of the Congress.1
I am very glad to find You have Commissioned a
Board of Directors of the Refugees, and ml hope the
Admiral will have been able to spare them Shipping
to carry on their Operations on the Sea nCoasts of the
New England Provinces ; many of those within the
°Lines who are unfit for Military Service are desirous
of being settled in the Country about Penobscot, and
require only to be supplied with Provisions for the
first Year, some Tools for Husbandry and Iron Work
for their Buildings, and as it is proposed to settle
that Country, and this appears a cheap method of dis
posing of these Loyalists it is wished You would
encourage them to go there under the Protection of
f FSMON
end
336 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the Associated Refugees, and assure them that a
Civil Government will follow them in due time ; for
I hope in the course of the Summer the Admiral and
You will be able to spare a Force sufficient to effect
an Establishment at Casco Bay and reduce that
Country to The King's Obedience.
al am very glad to find bby the List of the Officers
released, that the Exchanges have been carried so far ;
but as it appears from Mr Washington's last Letter
to You, that they will not be carried on further, the
Measure of enlisting their Prisoners for Service in
the West Indies, should be adopted Immediately/ and
indeed such has been the Mortality from Sickness
among the Troops there, that I do not see any other
Means of recruiting them.
fll am sorry to acquaint You, that the General Pre
valence of Westerly Winds for these last two Months,
has prevented the Warwick and Solebay, with their
Convoy, from getting further than Plymouth, where
they are still detained. f
I am,g Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
Germain sir Henry Clinton K.B. GEO : GERMAIN.
5 OB: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, REPLY [74]^ 170.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain to
Sir Henry Clinton, dated Whitehall, yth March, 1781.
This extract from No. 50 is shown in margins pp 334~335-
5 OF: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, 8 GW 520.
Same as No. 50 with variations shown in margins pp 334-336.
508: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Fr trans GERMAIN p 25.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extrait d'une lettre du lord George Germain a Sir
Henri Clinton, datee de Whitehall, le 7 mars 1781.
This is four parts of No. 50 as shown in margins pp 334-336.
5ov: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Draft PA 139/311.
Endorsed Dra1 to Sir Henry Clinton 7th March 1781.
(N°8i.) 39 Entd dup
Same as No. 50 with variations shown in margins pp 334-336.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 337
5<DE: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Copy PA 432/244.
In margin Sir Henry Clinton (N° 81.)
Same as No. 50 with variations shown in margins pp 334-336.
5 OR: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Copy SACKVILLE 9/220.
In margin Sir Henry Clinton (N° 8 1 .)
Same as No. 50 with variations shown in margins pp 334~33^.
50M : GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Extract LANSDOWNE 68/5 .
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Ld Geo. Germain
to Sir Henry Clinton dated Whitehall yth March
1781. N°40 Ex.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George Ger
main to Sir Henry Clinton dated Whitehall 7th
March 1781.
This is four parts of No. 50 as shown in margins pp 334-336.
500: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Extract HL No 40.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain to Sir Henry Clinton dated Whitehall
7th March 1781. N° 40.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain to Sir Henry Clinton dated Whitehall,
7th March 1781.
This is four parts of No. 50 as shown in margins pp 334-336.
5 ON: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 7 March 1781, Fr trans FO 3734/12.
Endorsed Lettre intercepted du Lord George Ger
main an Mr Henry Clinton. 2eme
This is three parts of No. 50 as shown in margins pp 334-336.
51 GERMAIN TO CORNWALLIS, 7 March 1781, Draft PA 157/19.
REPLY [72]^ 170, with Clinton's MS. Note.
Endorsed Dra* to Earl Cornwallis 7th March 1781.
(N° 2) 38. dup. Entd
a(N°2.) Whitehall 7th March I78I.1 aI
Earl Cornwallis cotV
cMy Lord, I have had the honor to receive and iB*
lay before The King your Lordship's Dispatch of
the 1 8th of Decr from Weymesborough transmitting
1 read in H Lords the whole letter.
43
338 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Copies of your own and Lord Rawdons Letters to
Sir Henry Clinton & Brigr Gen1 Leslie, and His
Majesty observed with particular Satisfaction that
you were in perfect Health when the former were
& B reads written, and I beg leave to add my own aCongratula-
cougratula- . *? , , . , J
tion tions upon your Lordship s recovery.
The reasons which you assign for calling Gen1
Leslie from Virginia are founded in Wisdom and
could not fail being approved by the King ; and as I
have had the pleasure to learn from Col Balfour
that Gen1 Leslie had joined you and you were in
motion on the 1 1 th of January, I make no doubt but
your Lordship will by this time have had the honor
to recover the Province of North Carolina to His
Majesty, and I am even sanguine enough to hope
from your Lordship's distinguished Abilities, and
Zeal for the King's Service, that the Recovery of a
part of Virginia will crown your Successes before the
Season becomes too intemperate for Land Operations,
as Sir Henry Clinton has informed me that he has
sent a force under Brigadier General Arnold to
replace General Leslies at Portsmouth and co-operate
with your Lordship I am &c. GEO. GERMAIN.**
5 IB : GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 7 March 1781, REPLY [72] jp 170.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain to
Earl Cornwallis, dated Whitehall, March 7th, 1781.
Same as No. 51 with variations shown in margins pp 337-338.
5 IF : GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 7 Mar. 1781, Fr trans GERMAIN^? 18.
Extrait d'une lettre du lord George Germain au
Comte Cornwallis, datee de Whitehall, le 7 mars 1781.
The same letter as No. 5 1 .
518 : GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 7 March 1781, Copy PA 432/252.
In margin Earl Cornwallis (N° 2.)
The same letter as No. 51.
5 IV : GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 7 March 1781, Copy SACKVILLE 10/2.
The same letter as No. 51.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 339
5 IE: GERMAIN to CORNWALLIS, 7 March 1781, Copy HL NO 38.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lord George Ger
main to Earl Cornwallis. 7th March 1781. N° 38.
The same letter as No. 5 1 .
d BS read
river
52 ARNOLD TO CLINTON, 8 March 1781, Extract PA 139/485.
OBSERVATIONS [71 Ap'x] p 129, with Clintoris MS. Note.
Endorsed Extracts of a Letter from Brigr General
Arnold to H. E. Sir H. Clinton dated Portsmouth
March 8th 1781. Received by the Maria March 12th
1781. In Sir H7 Clinton's N° 1 20* (4) 6. a see "•
Extracts of a Letter from Brigadier General Arnold
to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Portsmouth March 8th
1781.
b"On the 6th I received Information that °my Lord b^
Cornwallis had not penetrated further than the Dan fB0mitsniy
or Roanoke dRivers, and that in consequence of the
Misinformation (sent to the Rebel Army by Express
as mentioned in my last) being contradicted, their
Detachment had returned to their Army at Suffolk as
well as Mr Gregory to the Northwest Bridge. Their
Force at the former Place 3,000 6Men, at the latter
5OO1. On this Change of Affairs, the Troops under
the orders of fColonel Dundas, who were designed up
the James River, were countermanded ;g but as they g B stops
were on board Ship, and a favorable Opportunity
offering to attack the Enemy's Post at the halfway
House between Hampton and York, twelve Miles
from the former, Lieu1 Col1 Dundas being joined by
Thirty dismounted Dragoons of the Queen's Rangers,
proceeded in Boats on the Night of the 7th to the
back River, thirty Miles from his Ships on the
Chesapeak Bay, where he landed at 4 OClock about
200 Men, Two Boats with a part of his Detachment
having parted with him in a thick Fog and heavy
Squall of Wind and Rain. He marched three Miles
la and yet Lord Cornwallis the least in his favour in the
asserts that a defensive Post in Carolinas.
Chesapeak did not operate in
f B inserts
Lieutenant
340
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a F reads
iiews
b B continues
c B reads
Pricket
d F omits to
US
e B omits
that
f B reads
their
g Bends
h F runs on
i F8 end I
have the
honour to
he &c.
(Signed) B.
Arnold.
to the Enemies Post, which he found had been
evacuated three Nights before. He however de
stroyed a small Magazine of about One hundred
Stands of Arms, some Provision and Amunition, and
on his way to New-Port-aNews fell in with a Party of
Forty of the Enemy ; a Skirmish ensued, in which,
fourteen of the Enemy were left dead on the Field and
Seventeen made Prisoners. Among the former was a
Colonel Mallery, and a Colonel Curl among the latter.
Lieu* Stewart of the 8oth Regiment was killed in
the Action. Lieu1 Salisbury of the Eomulus and two
Privates slightly wounded. Lieu1 Col1 Dundas had
his Horse shot under him, and upon this, as well as
every other occasion, has behaved with great Bravery.
bThe Enemy within two Days have moved with
their Force, said to be upwards of three Thousand
Men, to cBriskets Mills, twelve Miles from this Place,
dand threaten an Attack upon us. I have every reason
to believe, ethat they have collected fthis Force to co
operate with the French Ships and Troops which they
hourly expect from Rhode Island "g
" I have invited the Commodore to meet Lieu1
Colls Dundas, Simcoe, Robinson •& myself, with some
of his Officers, to determine our mode of Defence in
case of an Attack, which I expect will be done this
Evening, or to morrow Morning. I am clearly of
opinion that if the Commodore gives up Crany
Island Bar, that every King's Ship and Transport
here, will fall a Sacrifice in forty Eight Hours after
the Arrival of a superior Fleet, and Army to ours.'?h
" We are however all in high Spirits, not doubting
but that our Wants and critical Situation will be
properly attended to."1
526: ARNOLD to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [71 Ap'x~]p 129.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract. — From Brigadier - general Arnold to Sir
Henry Clinton, dated Portsmouth, March 8, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 52 as shown in margins pp 339-340.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 341
52F: ARNOLD to CLINTON, 8 March 1781, Fr trans GERMAIN^ 75.
Extrait (Tune lettre du brigadier-general Arnold a Sir
Henri Clinton, chevalier du Bain, datee de Ports
mouth le 8 mars 1781.
Same as No. 52 with variations shown in margins pp 339-340.
523: ARNOLD to CLINTON, 8 March 1781, Copy HL NO 5.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy. Brig-Gen1 Arnold to Sir Henry
Clinton K.B. 'Portsmouth March 8th 1781. In Sir
H? Clinton's of i st March 1781.* ( 3 ) N° 5 . » «* «. ae*
Same as No. 52 with variations shown in margins pp 339-340.
09%
53 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, 2/5/8 March 1781, Copy RI 29/67.
NARRATIVE [5] p 9, ANSWER [58] p 86, OBSERVATION [56 Ap'x\ p
129, with Clintons Manuscript Notes from each.
Copy New York 2d & 5th March 1781.
aMy Lord,1-2-3-4-5
bMarch 2d. Your Lordship may probably hear
that6 the Army and Navy in °Chesapeak are blocked
up by a superior French Naval Force to that under
Capt Symonds. The rirst Account I had of it was
from Gen1 Arnold dated dthe I4th Feby & I sent it
immediately to the Admiral at "Gardners Bay. A snad
Day or two afterwards, I had it confirmed that they (*ardiller's
laA Col Balfour received this the 7th to the 24th tho he had
letter & to page 64 on the 6th frequent & safe opportunities,
of April but neglected to send nor did he &c. &c.
them to Lord Cornwallis. 5aO The following letters
2dO this letter was delivered were delivered to Col. Balfour
to Col. Balfour the 6th of April, the 6th of April & if they were
but not sent to his Lordship by not sent to Lord Cornwallis at
the many safe opportunities that Wilmington before he left that
offered, all those carried by C. Place on the 23*1 of April at
Amherst were delivered to Col. least they might and ought to
Balfour the 6th April. have been sent to him, & if he
3aO delivered by him to Col. had received them, he could not
Balfour the 7th April. have moved into Virginia. He
4bO this letter was little likely would not have been taken at
to have tempted his Lordship York-Town, & America would at
into Virginia it was one of those this time have made a part of
which Col. Balfour neglected the British Empire,
sending to L. Cornwallis from 6dO that to navy underlined.
342
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a F runs on
omitting
March 5th
b P reads
eastward
e Econtinued
from p 333
786
8 new ^[
d B o;/i its to
Brigadier
e S omits
projected
f B stops,
adding by
the appear
ance of the
French
ships,
g b new ^
h F inserts
to
i S omits
Ethan Allen
k 8 insertsot
1 B continues
F reads
Discon
tents run
m BFS read
littte
n 8 omits
permanent
were part of the Fleet from Rhode Island, which
I have heard since sailed from thence on the gth
Ultimo. Notwithstanding which I greatly fear7
he8 has not sent a Naval Force to relieve them.
Washington has detached some New England Troops
under la Fayette & Howe that way.a
March 5th. If so much Time is given I cannot
answer for consequences. Portsmouth is safe at this
Season against any Attack from the Suffolk Side ;
but not so from a landing in any of the Bays to the
Southward of Elizabeth Eiver.9 CI have much to
lament that dthe Admiral did not think it adviseable
to send there at first, as Brigadier General Arnold's
projected Move in favor of your Lordship's Opera
tions will have been stop'd/10 And if the Admiral
Delays it too long, I shall dread still more fatal Conse
quences/11 I have Troops already embarked in a great
proportion to that of the Enemy ; but to send them
under two Frigates only before the Chesapeak is our
own, is to12 sacrifice the Troops and their Convoy.
I incloseh your Lordship all the News I have been
able to collect: VEthan Allen13 has I think quitted
Congress and put them at Defiance. Your Lordship
will see his Plan by the News Paper of the 28th
kFebruary, said to be genuine. Discontent runs high
in Connecticut. In short my Lord there seems
mno thing wanting to give a mortal Stab to Rebellion,
but a proper Reinforcement14*15 and a permanent16
7dQ was it under such informa
tion that Lord Cornwallis should
have forced operations that re
quired a Fleet to cover them.
8dQ fear he underlined.
9aA does not this plainly tell
his Lordship that I had deter
mined on a Plan of operation to
the northward of Chesapeak and
if he had received those dis
patches He must have considered
them as prohibiting his interfer
ence.
lOabdmN of War in the Chesa
peak.
HaO Surely with this informn
His Lordship was little likely to
have engaged in operation in
Virginia.
12dQ to to Troops underlined.
13aQ Allen
14aA proper reinforcement un
derlined.
15cN proper reinforcement un
derlined.
permanent underlined.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE
343
a B stops
b 8 inserts
Superiority at Sea 17<18 for the next Campaign, with
out which19 any Enterprize depending20 on Water
Movements21 must certainly run great Risque.* Shou'd
the Troops already embarked for bChesapeak proceed,
& When there, be able to undertake any Operation
in addition to what Brigadier Gen1 Arnold proposes ;
I am confident it will be done. Major Gen1 Phillips
will command this Expedition.
"Till Col1 Bruce arrives I am uncertain what Rein
forcements are intended for this Army. The Minister
has however assured me that every possible Exertion d ?FS read
dshall be made.622-23'24-25-26'27'28'29 ?B end.
6 B continufs
Until
17aA permanent to sea under
lined.
18aQ same as note i.
19aA without which underlined.
20dO depending on underlined.
21dQ movements underlined.
22aA does not this also alarm
him for any movement depending
on a Fleet.
23aN this letter Coll Balfour
reed the yth of April at C. Town
had he sent it to Ld Cornwallis any
time before the 24th the day his
Lordship quitted Wilmington for
Virginia must have prevented his
going there.
24bN this letter Col. Balfour
reed the yth April at C. Town, had
he sent it to Lord Cornwallis any
time before the 24. the day his
Lordp quitted Wilmington for
Virginia : tis rather extraordinary
L C should have decided on such a
move without waiting to receive
these dispatches, as so far from
inviting him into Virginia, they
all but forbid his going there
read — pages 61. 62. 63. 64 of
L. Cornwallis reply 57. 58. 59.
60 also.
25dN This letter with others
and My Instructions to Genl
Phillips were delivered to Coll Bal
four Comt at Charles Town on the
6th April 8 1 he opened them in
formed me on the 9th he would
sd them to L<i Cornwallis then at
Wilmington 7 days sail from
Charles Town. Ld. Cornwallis
knew they were coming to him
tis therefore extraordinary, that
complaining he had no accounts
from me he decides on a desper
ate move without My Approba
tion : Why Coll Balfour did not
send them by some of the many
Opportunities which offered is
for him to explain. His letter
to me of the 7th came by a Man
of War it brought also Letters
to me from Ld Cornwallis of the
loth, surely such an opportunity
should not have been missed
there were others also
26kN this letter and others of
the 2d & 8th March and copy of
Instructions to Gen Phillips
Balfour owned the receipt of in
his letter to me 7th April by a
Man of War who also brought
me letters from L. Cornwallis of
the roth April. But C Balfour
did not send my dispatches or
the substance to L. C as was his
duty by this, or any other safe
344
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
A FS italict
b S new ^
instant
d tfS insert
at least
e S inserts
the
fFon.its
Ulto.
I shall tremble for our Post at Portsmouth shou'd
the Enemy's Reinforcement arrive in that Neighbour
hood, before the Force which I anow flatter myself the
Admiral will order a sufficient Convoy for, arrives
8th March. I have received a Letter from Gen1
Arnold dated the 25th Ult° wherein he tells me that
the French left him on the iqih. bAnd in another
letter of the 27th he says he has not the least doubt
of defending his Post against the Force of the
Country and 2000 French Troops, until a Reinforce
ment can arrive from New York. And that he
proposed to send 500 Men under Col1 Dundas up
James River to make a Diversion in favour of your
Lordship.
The Admiral informs me of the return of the
French Ships to Rhode Island, and of their having
taken the Romulus and carried her into that Place.
But as the Admiral in his Letter of the C4th seems
to think that the whole or da great part of the French
Fleet sailed30 for 'Chesapeak31-32 on the 2;th fUlt%
and that he was at that Time ready to sail, I flatter
myself he is either gone there, or has sent a sufficient
Force to clear the Chesapeak. gThe Troops under
General Phillips have been embarked hfor some Time,
opporty but on the 23^ he sent
L. 0. word that he judged by
those dispatches I had resolved
on solid operation in Virginia
whereas those dispatches I do
aver all declare the exact con
trary.
2 7 IN This letter was in Col. Bal-
fours possession from the yth of
April 1781. he did not send it
to Lord Cornwallis as he ought,
had he done so tis presumed it
would have prevented his Lord
ships going in to Virginia as it
informed his Lordship that
the French fleet was in Chesapeak,
and consequently his Lordship
would not have forced operation
where it must be fatal under that
Circumstance.
28mN this letter L C ought and
might have reed before he left W.
& marched into Virginia should
not this have prevented his going
where unless covd by Fleet he
was undone.
29mN N.B. this is the first and
only letter in which I gave them
any hopes.
30dO sailed underlined.
31fO not in time for his lord
ship to go there.
32dQ Chesapeak underlined.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 345
and are now at33 the Hook34 waiting for the Admiral,
or a Message35 from him36-37 Gen1 Phillips com
mands and I am sure you know his Inclinations are
to co-operate with your Lordship ; and you will
a therefore be pleased to take him under your Orders
until byou hear further from me.0
Earl Cornwallis. Signed. H. CLINTON38 fFipJ|T
33aQ now at underlined. ' had been detatched to Virginia, honour to
34aQ Hook to Admiral under- how diflerent from the Fact, will £5ju*°nH'
lined. be seen, s inserts
35aQ message from him under- 38fQ all the above letters were honour! &c.
lined. directed to Col. Balfour on the
36aA This informs his Lordsp 6th of April but were not sent
that Phillips is waiting the event nor the substance to L. C before
of a naval action to be detatched his lordship left Wilmington My
not as Lord Cornwallis affects to Instructions to Gen Phillips
understand it that He had been ought to have been here also, to
detatched prove That so far from intending
37aQ Lord Corns says that by solid operation in Virginia to re-
the substance of my dispatches duce that province I had deter-
now coming to him, as asserted mined to quit that unhealthy
by Col. Balfour who had by my climate in May & drew most of
desire read them. His Lordship the troops to southern operation,
was informed that Gen. Phillips
536: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 5 March 1781, NARRATIVE [5]^ 9.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Cornwallis,
March 5, 1781.
Extracts from Nos. 49 and 53 shown in margins pp 333, 342-343.
53F: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 2/5/S/ Mar. 1781, ANSWER [58] p 86.
With Clintons Manuscript Notes.
Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated New
York, March 26, 1781.
Received by Earl Cornwallis in Virginia.
Same as No. 53 with variations shown in margins pp 341-345.
533: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [56 Apjx]p 129.
With Clintons Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated New- York, March 2, 5, and 8, 1781. [Sent
by Captain Amherst, in the Jupiter Merchant Ship.]
Same as No. 53 with variations shown in margins pp 341-345.
44
346 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
54 CLINTON TO BALFOUR, 9 March 1781, Copy RI 22/74.
OBSERVATIONS [64 Ap>x]p 129, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Copy New York March 9th 1781
*v beg™ agj^ I was favored with your Letters dated the
25th & 3ist JanF & 2cl & 5th Feb^ by the Halifax
bB stops Slo0p 0£ War on the ! 6th uitimo ,b
As the disposal of the Rebel Prisoners in Carolina
is submitted to Lord Cornwallis it is unnecessary
for me to trouble you with Instructions on that
Head. And with respect to Governor Ballings
Letter & Instructions to Lord Charles Montagu, I
must refer you also for Directions to Lord Corn
wallis, who is of course the best Judge how far it
will be for the good of the King's Service in the
Southern Colonies to afford Lord Charles the Assist
ance which Gen1 Balling solicits.
I expect to receive a Supply of Arms very soon.
All those we had to spare were left in Carolina, or
sent on the Expeditions to the Chesapeak.
cCapt ^mherst of the 6oth Reg* who is so obliging
to charge himself with my Dispatches1 for Lord2
Cornwallis, will deliver them to your Care.d3
L* Col1 Balfour. Signed H. CLINTON.
Id my dispatches underlined. Amphitrite which called also at
2d Lord to care underlined. Cape Fear & brought letters
3b these dispatches Col. Bal- from L. Cornwallis why did not
four owns the receipt of in his Col. Balfour send them by that
letter of the 7th April, page by oppty to Lord Cornwallis.
546 : CLINTON to BALFOUR, OBSERVATIONS [64 Apx~]p 129.
With Clintons Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Sir H. Clinton, K.B. to Lieutenant-
colonel Balfour, sent by Captain Amherst, in the
Jupiter merchant ship, dated New York, March 9,
1781.
This is two parts of No. 54 as shown in margin p 346.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 347
55 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, 10 March 1781, ANSWER [6i]_p 86.
NARRATIVE [95] p 57, ANSWER [61] p 86 and [175] p 90, OBSERVA
TIONS [69 Ap'x~\p 1 2 9, CORRESPONDENCE [ 1 9] p i34,REPLY[77J p 170.
With Clinton's MS. Notes from NARRATIVE, ANSWER, CORRESPON
DENCE and REPLY.
Copy of Sir Henry Clinton's Instructions to Major-
general Phillips, dated Head Quarters, aNew York,
March loth, 1781. Deceived by Earl Cornwallis in
Virginia.
°Sir, You will be pleased to proceed with the cS**l'IW
troops embarked under your command to Chesapeak
Bay, and there form a junction as soon as possible
with Brigadier-general Arnold, whom, and the corps
with him, you will take under your orders.d
Should any unforeseen accident prevent your forming
an immediate junction with Brigadier-general Arnold,
you will, however, exert every endeavour to communi
cate with him. And as the principal object of your
expedition is the security of him, the troops at pre
sent under his orders, and the posts he occupies eon
Elizabeth River, near the mouth of James River in
Virginia, you will, of course, use every means to attain
this very material purpose. — The properest methods
to be pursued on this occasion cannot be exactly
pointed out to you, but fmust be left to your dis- ft*efS6rts
cretion.
gWhen you shall have formed your junction with &s continu
Brigadier-general Arnold, if you find that General
acting under the orders of Earl Cornwallis, you will,
of course, endeavour to fulfil those orders. — If this
should not be the case ; after receiving every informa
tion respecting his probable situation, you will make
such movements with the corps hthen under your *sitalict
orders as can be made consistent with the security of
the post on Elizabeth River, or you shall think will
most effectually assist his Lordships operations, by
destroying or taking any magazines the enemy may
have on James River, or at Petersburg, on the
Appamatox.1 After which, if it should be thought is$t°Ps
348
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a S continues
bBFVB
teg in
c S reads
Admiral's
d S italics
York Town
Old Point
Comfort
e S italics to
loss
f S italics to
Chesapeak
g BPSJi R
omit shall
h FSVR read
operation
i VR omit
the
k BFVE end
8 stops
necessary, you will establish a post, or posts, at such
stations on James River, as shall appear best calcu
lated to open the way for, and secure the safety, as
far as possible, of a rapid movement of troops to give
jealousy for Upper James River, and to interrupt the
course of supplies to the Carolinas.
aThe object of co-operation with Lord Cornwallis
being fulfilled, you are at liberty to carry on such
desultory expeditions for the purpose of destroying
the enemy's public stores and magazines in any part
of the Chesapeak, as you shall judge proper.
bllf the 'Admiral* disapproving of Portsmouth, and
requiring a fortified station for large ships in the
Chesapeak, should propose dYork Town or Old Point
Comfort, if possession of either can be acquired and
maintained ewithout great risk or loss, you are at
liberty to take possession thereof: ^ut2 if the objections
are such as you gshall think forcible, you must, after
stating those objections, decline it, till solid Opera
tions take place in 'the Chesapeak.*3-4'5-6-?-8-9-10-11
1R in my narrative
2aC but to Chesapeak under
lined.
3aA If Lord Cornwallis rests
his defence of taking York Sta
tion on his not finding that of
James a safe one He ought to
recollect that unless He could
give effectual Protection to large
ships in York River & that
Station could be acquired and
maintained without great risk or
loss, or if his objections were
such as He thought forcible he
was ordered to state such objec
tions, & decline it.
4aA If Lord Cornwallis gives
this extract as affecting his Lord
ship what does he prove by it.
That if his objections to any
Station are such as he thinks
forcible he must decline taking
Possession. &c.
5cA This very instruction to
Genl Phillips proves that if a
station can't be acquired & main
tained witht great risk, or He has
any objections He thinks forcible
He must decline it. now if L.C.
on being ordered to occupy a
Place of arms had on examinaticn
found objections now if an Insn
to Gen Phillips could operate on
one to Lord Cornwallis of subse
quent date, as His Lordship
thought it did, as he objected to
old Point Comfort & stated his
objections ; had he had any objec
tions to that which he spontane
ously chose in preference He
should have said so, but the
reader will observe He never gave
the least reason to judge unfavor
ably of York Town till 3 days
before he capitulated.
6aC I appeal whether this very
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 349
As to whatever relates to the people of the coun
try, their being received and armed, or being more for
the King's service that they should remain quietly at
their houses, or respecting the oaths that should be
offered to them, or for your general conduct in matters
of this kind, I refer you to my Instructions to Major-
general Leslie, and Brigadier-general Arnold, copies
of which will be given to you.
And Concerning your return to this place, you will a 8 «>»<«»««
receive either my orders or Lord Cornwallis's, as cir
cumstances may make necessary .b ^ stops
Tis presumed his Lordship will be able to spare
troops to station at Portsmouth, &c. but should that
not be the case, you are at liberty to leave either the
regiment of Prince Hereditaire or the seventy-sixth,
or both, for that purpose, under any officer, being a
general officer, Lord Cornwallis may choose to ap
point ; but if it should be an officer of your own ap
pointing, "with the rank of Lieutenant-colonel ; I think °E inserts if
Lieutenant-colonel Dundas, as being acquainted with
the spot, should remain.
order to G. Phillips which became 9bN His instruction was de-
equally binding to L. Cornwallis livered to L. Corn, on his arrival
who succeeded to him in that in Chesapeak, could I think after
Command did not empower his receiving it, he could take York
Lordship to reject any post if he & Gloucester for this very purpose
did not think it safe. if he did not think them safe and
7bC does not this instruction as he had disapproved of Old
clearly imply that his Lordship Point comfort, & told me why,
was at full liberty to object to was I not to suppose as he said
taking a station if he thought ill nothing to the contrary when he
of it or did it not at least require took York & Glotr that they were
that he should make some report safe posts, for if not as follows in
upon it which was not however this letter, we must not take them
done altho it had been done with but content ourselves with cover-
respect to the pest I had named. ing frigates only.
8aN Lord Cornwallis says that 10iN does not this call upon
standing in Genl Phillips Place L. Cornwallis to report upon any
He considered orders to that Station he takes & to reject it if
General as binding on him, by he disapproves,
these Instions to G. Phillips had HbN all these instructions L
his Lordship's reasons for not C. owns the receipt off and con-
occupying York & Glour been siders some of them as binding on
forcible, he should have said so. him.
350 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
b srS?MM alt is probable, Vhenever the objects of this expedi-
lhsomten tion are fulfilled, and °that you have strengthened the
present works, and added such others as you shall
that** think necessary, dthat you emay return to this place. —
ptaas"** to In which case, you must bring with you Brigadier-
general Arnold, the Light Infantry, Colonel Eobinson's
corps, or, the seventy- sixth, and, if it should be
fs runs on ^^{^^ fa^ Queen's Rangers/
The moment you have communicated with Lord
Cornwallis, and heard from his Lordship, you are to
consider yourself as under his Lordship's orders, until
H. he, or you shall hear further from me.g
clEM°inSeri Most heartily wishing you success, I have the
OT?£ honour to be, &c. hH. CLINTON.12
55R:
fs^ed)*^ 12a/J^ a^ these letters above they do not all imply a doubt
where the copy of Instruction to respecting our naval superiority
Gen Phillips were received by Col in that bay of Chesapeak &
Balfour on the 6 of April they whether they do not all but for-
are those Lord Cornwallis men- bid L. Cornwallis going there, nay
tions in his of the 23 April to L. the very first line of that of the
G Germain page 50 the reader 2<1 march should have prevented
is requested to say whether any his going, notg all this and that
of them inform his Lordship that He laments he is about to make
Gen Phillips had been detached to a desperate move without His
Virginia. — whether L C could have Comr in Chiefs approbation tho
supposed from any of them, that he expects dispatches hourly He
S H C had determined on solid moves,
operation in Virginia, whether
553; CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 10 March 1781, NARRATIVE [95]^ 57.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract from Sir H. Clinton's Instructions to Major-
General Philips, dated March 10, 1781.
This extract from No. 55 is shown in margin p 348.
55F: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 10 March 1781, ANSWER [175]^ 90.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of the Instructions of his Excellency Sir
Henry Clinton, to Major-general Phillips, dated New
York, March 10, 1781.
This extract from No. 55 is shown in margin p 348.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 351
553: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, OBSERVATIONS [69 Ap\v~] p 129.
Extract. — From Instructions to Major-general Phillips,
dated New York, March 10, 1781.
This is Jive parts of No. 55 as shown in margins pp 347-350.
55V: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, CORRESPONDENCE [19]^ 134.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of the Instructions of his Excellency Sir
Henry Clinton, to Major General Phillips, dated at
Head-Quarters, New York, March 10, 1781.
This extract from No. 55 is shown in margin p 348.
55E: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 10 March 1781, REPLY [77] p 170.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract from Sir H. Clinton's Instructions to Major-
General Phillips, dated March 10, 1781.
This extract from No. 55 is shown in margin p 348.
5511: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 10 March 1781, Copy PA 139/489.
Endorsed Copy. Instructions to Major General
Phillips dated New York March ioth 1781. In Sir
H^ Clinton's N° 120* (5) (7) »«*u.364
Same as No. 55 with variations shown in margins pp 347-350,
and the following additional paragraph : —
In order that I may be furnished with every In
formation necessary to be Communicated to the
Secretary of State to be laid before the King, I am
to request that you will from time to time transmit
to me, such Intelligence as you may think Interesting
to His Majesty's Service.
55M: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 10 March 1781, Copy HLNo 6.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy. Instructions to Major General
Phillips dated New York March ioth 1781. In Sir
H^ Clinton's of ist March i78i.b (4) N° 6.
Same as No. 55 with variations shown in margins pp 347-350 and
the additional paragraph as in No. 5511.
352 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
56 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, 14 March 1781, ANSWEE [85] p 87.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general Phillips,
dated March 14, 1781, half past Two.
[Received at Petersburgh by Earl Cornwallis,
May 20. 1<2]
Dear Phillips, By the enclosed from the Admiral
you will see that the want of intelligence has again
lost us a fair opportunity of giving " a mortal blow."
I hope, however, he will still overtake them before
they reach Chesapeak ; they sailed in a snow storm
on Wednesday, and I fear he was not out of Gar
diner's Bay till Saturday. He was, however, left
pursuing on the i ith, with all his coppers and a fair
wind. I think, if he does not overtake them at sea,
they will not risk an action in Lynhaven-bay, and will
therefore proceed with their whole fleet to York, as
I told the Admiral they would, and there, perhaps,
lay ; and I had almost said fascinate the Admiral
till another fleet arrives ; if from Europe, it ought
not to come without a hint from thence ; from the
West Indies it will not probably come unaccom
panied by our friend Sir George. 'Tis possible it
only means to see the transports off the Chesapeak,
and then proceed to the West-Indies with the
fleet of men of war ; 'tis possible, also, that the
whole is gone to the West-Indies, for it is a bold
move to evacuate Rhode-island, and proceed to the
Chesapeak so encumbered, liable to be followed by
an unencumbered superior copper fleet. God send
our old Admiral success ! 1 depend on early informa
tion from you, and shall prepare for every possible
event. — Recollect that we have not a single transport
la This letter was marked Pocket, not a word in either of
thus.— " Private and most Secret." which could have been of the
2a I cannot account for L. least use to him, nor could it
Cornwallis's publishing this and answer any other purpose but to
some other of my private letters draw on altercation between the
found in poor dead Phillips Admiral & me.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 353
till you send some. With every wish for your health
and success,
Believe me, &c. H. CLINTON.
The schooner shall attend you, though we can ill
spare her. As often as possible communicate by
these vessels ; they make their passage better than
the frigates.
P.S. I have received your letters.
In addition to what 1 have written above, pray ob
serve me well in what I am saying.
I think, if the French are gone to Chesapeak, they
will shelter themselves in York-Biver. — The Admiral
will immediately hold his usual language — that he
waits for the army. That from South-Carolina can
not come, as Colonel Balfour has very injudiciously
sent home the transports. — I cannot move a man
till you send back transports ; but, if he proposes any
thing to you, he must first declare in writing posi
tively what he thinks his fleet will do, or at least
attempt, before you can decide ; and then, after con
sulting your officers, let me know your opinion what
can be done, and what land force it will require to
do it. If all agree that they will be unattackable in
that station, it must be blocked, and then we must
do our best to assist Lord Cornwallis's operations, or
carry on desultory operations in the Chesapeak till
some other plan can be settled ; but all must be set
tled in formal council.
57 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 17 March 1781,1,8 PA 157/189.
ANSWER [22]^ 85.
Endorsed N° 6. Guildford No: Carolina 17* March
1781 Lord Cornwallis (N° 6) R/ 4th June. Entd
aN° 6 Guildford 17th March 1781.
bMy Lord, Your Lordship's Dispatch N° i, dated
the 9th of November ult° was delivered to me by my
Aide-de-Camp Major Ross. The Officers & Soldiers,
who fought so gallantly on the i6th of August,
45
354 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
received with the warmest sense of Gratitude, the
Koyal Approbation of their behaviour ; And it is
particularly pleasing to me, that my Conduct has given
Satisfaction to His Majesty, and to his Ministers.
By the long interruption of our communication
with South Carolina, I have not been informed,
whether Lieu1 Governour Bull, and the other Civil
a B new t Officers have arrived in that Province ; al shall pay
proper attention to your Lordship's directions upon
that subject, as well as, relating to the Prisoners of
b s reads in ^ar confined bat Charlestown ; There are at present
some hopes, that a negociation now on foot, between
me and General Greene, will terminate in a Cartel
for their Exchange ; If it fails, I shall endeavour to
dispose of them in the manner recommended by your
Lordship, the expence and inconvenience of keeping
them being intolerable.6
I have the honour to bed with great respect My
Lord your Lordship's Most obedient & Most humble
Servant CORNWALLIS.
Right Honorable Lord George Germain &ca &ca &ca
57B: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, Tj March 1781, ANSWER, \_22~] p 85.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 6, to Lord
George Germain, dated Guildford, March 17, 1781.
Same as No. 57 with variations shown in margins pp 353-354.
57F: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, Copy RI 19/79.
Same as No. 57 with variations shown in margins pp 353-354.
578: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, Copy tA 309/38.
In margin Guildford N° Carolina 17th March 1781
Lord Cornwallis (N° 6.) R/ 4th June 1781.
Same as No. 57 with variations shown in margins pp 353-354.
58 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, LS PA 157/193.
ANSWER [23]^ 85.
Endorsed N° 7 Guildford North Carolina 1 7th March
a No.45F: 1781 Lord Cornwallis (N° 7) R/ 4th June i Inclosurea
Entd.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 355
aN° 7 Guildford March 171781. oZ£M
bMy Lord, Having occasion to dispatch my Aide-de- b
Camp Captain °Brodrick, with the particulars of the
Action of the 15*, in compliance with general direc
tions from Sir Henry Clinton ; I shall embrace the
opportunity to give your Lordship an account of the
operations of the Troops, under my Command,
dprevious to that event, and of those subsequent,
untill the departure of Captain "Brodrick.
My Plan for the Winter's Campaign, was to pene
trate into North Carolina, leaving South Carolina in
security against any probable attack in my Absence/
Lord Rawdon, with a considerable body of Troops,
had charge of the defensive, and I proceeded, about
the middle of January, upon the offensive operations.
I decided to march by the upper, in preference to the
lower roads, leading into North Carolina, because
Fords being frequent above the Forks of the Rivers,
my passage there could not easily be obstructed, and
General Greene having taken post on the Pedee, and
there being few fords in any of the great Rivers gof gy reads in
this Country below7 their Forks, especially in Winter,
I apprehended being much delayed, if not entirely
prevented, from penetrating by the latter route. hl
was the more induced to prefer this route, as I hoped
in my way, to be able to destroy, or drive out of South
Carolina, the Corps of the Enemy, commanded by
General Morgan, which threatened our valuable
district of Ninety Six ; and I likewise hoped by rapid
marches, to get between General Greene and Virginia,
and by that means, force him to fight, without receiv
ing any reinforcement from that province, or failing
of that, to oblige him to quit North Carolina with
precipitation, and thereby encourage our friends, to
make good their promises of a general rising, to as
sist me in re-establishing His Majesty's Government.
The unfortunate Affair of the 1 7th of January, was
a very unexpected and severe blow ; for besides repu
tation, our loss did not fall short of 600 men:
356 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
however, being thoroughly sensible, that defensive
measures, would be certain ruin to the Affairs of
Britain, in the southern Colonies, this event did not
deter me from prosecuting the original plan.*
That General Greene might be uncertain of my in
tended route, as long as possible, I had left General
Leslie at Camden, untill I was ready to move from
d?/s insert Wynnesborough, and he was now within a bmarch of
me ; I employed the i8th in forming a junction with
him, and in collecting the remains of Lieu'-Colonel
Tarleton's Corps ; after which, great exertions were
made by part of the Army, without Baggage, to retake
e somite to our Prisoners, and cto intercept General Morgan's
Corps, on it's retreat to the Catawba ; but the celerity
Of their movements, and the swelling of dthe number
less Creeks in our way, rendered all our efforts fruit-
}ess ej therefore assembled the Army, on the 25th at
Ramsoure's Mill, on the South Fork of the Catawba,
and as the loss of my light Troops, could only be reme
died by the activity of the whole Corps, I employed a
^a^ °f two days in collectingfsome Flour,and in destroy
ing superfluous Baggage, and all my Waggons, except
those loaded with Hospital Stores, Salt, and Ammuni
tion, and four, reserved empty in readiness for Sick
or wounded. In this measure, 'tho' at the expence
of a great deal of Officer's Baggage, and of all pro
spect in future of Rum, and even a regular supply of
gF reads the provisions to the Soldiers, I must in justice to gthis
Army say, that there was the most general and
chearfull acquiescence.
In the mean time, the rains had rendered the North
Catawba impassable, and General Morgan's Corps,
tne Militia of the rebellious Counties of hRowan &
Mecklenburgh, under General Davidson, or the Gang
of Plunderers usually under the command of General
Sumpter, not then recovered from his wounds, had
occupied all the Fords, in a space of more than forty
miles upwards from the Fork, during it's height, I
approached the River by short marches, so as to give
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 357
the enemy equal apprehensions for several Fords, and
after having procured the best information in my
power, I resolved to attempt the passage at a private
Ford (then slightly guarded) near McCowan's ford,
on the morning of the ist aof February.
Lieu1 Colonel Webster was detached with part of
the Army, and all the Baggage, to Beattie's Ford, six
miles above McCowan's, where General Davidson was
supposed to be posted, with 500 Militia, and bwas
directed to make every possible demonstration, °by c v <readt of
cannonading and otherwise, of an intention to force
a passage there, and I marched at one in the morning
with the Brigade of Guards, Regiment of Bose, 23rd
dRegiment, 200 Cavalry, and two three pounders, to
the ford fixed upon for the real attempt : ethe morning e BFS
being very dark and rainy, & part of our way
through a wood, where there was no road, one of the
three pounders, in front of the 23rd Regiment and the
Cavalry, overset in a swamp, and occasioned those
Corps to lose the Line of March, and some of the
Artillery Men, belonging to the other Gun, (one of
whom had the match) having stopped to assist, were
likewise left behind. The Head of the Column, in
the mean fwhile, arrived at the Bank of the River,
and gday began to break. I could make no use of the ^FS insert
Gun that was up, and it was evident, from the
Number of fires on the other side, that the opposition
would be greater than I had expected, however as I
knew that the Rain, then falling, would soon render
the River again impassable, and I had received infor
mation, the evening before, that General Greene had
arrived in General Morgan's Camp, and that his
Army was marching after him, with the greatest
expedition, I determined not to desist from the
attempt ; and therefore, full of confidence in the Zeal
& Gallantry of Brigre General Ohara, and of the
Brigade of Guards under his command, I ordered
them to march on, but, to prevent confusion, not to
fire untill they gained the opposite bank. Their
358 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
behaviour justified my high opinion of them ; for a
constant fire from the enemy, in a ford upwards of
five hundred Yards wide, in many places up to their
middle, with a rocky Bottom and strong current,
made no impression on their cool and determined
valour, nor checked their passage. The light Infantry
landing first, immediately formed, and in a few
minutes killed or dispersed every thing, that appeared
before them, the rest of the Troops forming and
advancing in succession. We now learned, that we
had been opposed by about three hundred Militia,
that had taken post there, only the evening before,
under the command of General Davidson: Their
General, and two or three other Officers, were among
the killed, the number of wounded was uncertain,
aan(j a £ew were taken prisoners. On our side Lieu*-
Colonel Hall and three men were killed and thirty
bss insert sjx b\vounded, all of the Light Infantry, and Grenadiers
of the Guards, by this time the rear of the Column
had joined, and the whole having passed with the
greatest dispatch, I detached Lieu* Colonel Tarleton,
with the Cavalry and 23rd Regiment, to pursue the
routed Militia. A few were soon killed or taken,
and Lieu* Colonel Tarleton having learned, that 3 or
400 of the neighbouring Militia, were to assemble
that day at Tarrants's house, about ten miles from the
CF reads his fo^ leaving his Infantry, he went on with cthe
dv inserts Qavalry, and finding the Militia as dexpected, he with
excellent conduct and great spirit, attacked them
instantly, and totally routed them, with little loss on
j^g e^^ anj on their s, between 40 and 50 killed,
WOunded, for prisoners. This stroke, with our
passage of the Ford, so effectually dispirited the
Militia, that we met with no further opposition, on
our march to the Yadkin, through one of the most
rebellious tracts in America.
During this time, the Rebels having quitted
Beattie's Ford, Lieu* Colonel Webster was passing
his detachment and the Baggage of the Army, this
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 359
had become tedious and difficult by the continuance
of the rain and the swelling of the River, but all
joined us soon after dark, aabout six miles from
Beattie's Ford. The other fords were likewise aban
doned by the Enemy : the greatest part of the Militia
dispersed, and General Morgan, with his Corps,
marched all that afternoon, and the following night
towards Salisbury. We pursued next morning, in
hopes to intercept him between the Rivers ; and
after struggling with many difficulties, arising from
swelled Creeks & bad Roads, the Guards came up
with his rear, in the Evening of the 3rd, routed it,
and took a few Waggons at the trading Ford of the
Yadkin : He had passed the Body of bhis Infantry in ™reads]
Flats, & his Cavalry and Waggons by the ford,
during that day and the preceding night ; but at the
time of our arrival, the Boats were secured on the
other side, and the ford had become impassable.
The River continuing to rise, and the weather ap
pearing unsettled, I determined to march to the
upper Fords, after procuring a small supply of pro
visions at Salisbury. This, and the height of the
Creeks in our way, detained me two days, and in
that time, Morgan having quitted the Banks of the
River, I had information from our Friends, who
crossed in Canoes, that General Greene's Army, was
marching with the utmost dispatch, to form a junc
tion with him at Guildford. Not having had time
to collect the North Carolina Militia, and having
received no reinforcement from Virginia, I concluded
°that he would do every thing in his power, to avoid
an Action, on the South Side of the Dan; and it
being my Interest to force him to fight, I made great
expedition, and got between him and the upper
Fords, and being assured that the lower fords are
seldom practicable in winter, and that he could not
collect many Flats at any of the Ferries, I was in
great hopes, that he would not escape me without
deceiving a blow. Nothing could exceed the
360 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
patience and alacrity of the Officers, and Soldiers,
under every species of hardship and fatigue, in en-
themads deavouring to overtake ahim; but our intelligence
upon this occasion, was exceedingly defective, which,
with heavy rains, bad roads, and the passage of many
deep Creeks, and bridges destroyed by the Enemy's
light Troops, rendered all our exertions vain ; for
i2thrcorf* upon our arrival at Boyd's Ferry, on the bi5th, we
learned, that his rear guard had got over the night
before, his Baggage and main body having passed,
the preceding day, at that and ca neighbouring ferry,
where more flats had been collected, than dhad been
represented to me as possible. 6My force being ill
suited to enter by that quarter so powerfull a Pro
vince as Virginia, and North Carolina being in the
utmost confusion, after giving the Troops a halt of
fone £av^ j proceeded by easy marches to Hills-
borough, where I erected the King's Standard, and
invited by Proclamation, all loyal Subjects to repair
to it, and to stand forth, and take an active part, in
assisting me to restore order, and Constitutional
Government. As a considerable body of Friends
were said to reside between the Haw and Deep
Rivers, I detached Lieu* Colonel Tarleton on the
23rd with the Cavalry, and a small body of Infantry,
to prevent their being interrupted in assembling.
Unluckily a detachment of the Rebel light Troops,
had crossed the same day, & by accident, fell in with
about two hundred of our Friends, under Colonel
Pyle, on their way to Hillsborough, who, mistaking
the Rebels for Lieu1 Colonel Tarleton's Corps, allowed
themselves to be surrounded, and a number of them
were most inhumanly butchered, when begging for
quarter, without making the least resistance. The
same day I had certain intelligence, that General
Greene, having been reinforced, had recrossed the
Dan; which ^rendering it imprudent to separate
my Corps, ^occasioned the recall of Lieu* Colonel
Tarleton's detachment, and forage and provisions
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 361
being scarce in the neighbourhood of Hillsborough,
as well as the position too distant (upon the approach
of the Rebel Army) for the protection of the body of
our Friends ; I judged it expedient to cross the Haw,
and encamped near aAllamance Creek, detaching
Lieu1 Colonel Tarleton, with the Cavalry, Light
Company of the Guards, and 150 Men of Lieu1
Colonel Webster's Brigade, a few miles from me on
the road to Deep River, more effectually to cover the
Country.
General Greene's light Troops soon made their
appearance, and on the 2nd, a patrole having reported,
that they had seen both Cavalry and Infantry near
bto his Post, I directed Lieu* Colonel Tarleton to JoBPS omit
move forward, with proper precautions, and endeavour
to discover the designs of the Enemy ; He had not
advanced far, when he fell in with a considerable
Corps, which he immediately attacked, and routed,
but being ignorant of their Force, and whether they
were supported, with great prudence desisted from
"pursuit : he dsoon learned from Prisoners, that those
he had beat, were Lee's Legion, 3 or 400 back
Mountain Men under Colonel Preston, with a
number of Militia, and that General Greene, with flpart
of his Army, was not far distant. Our Situation for
the former few days had been amongst timid friends,
and adjoining to inveterate Rebels ; Between them, I
had been totally destitute of information, which lost me
a very favourable opportunity, of attacking the Kebel
Army. General Greene fell back to Thompson's
house, near Boyd's Ford, on the Reedy Fork, but his
light Troops and Militia still remained near us, and
as I was informed, that they were posted carelessly
at separate Plantations, for the convenience of subsist
ing, I marched on the 6th to drive them in and to
attack General Greene if an opportunity offered. I
succeeded completely in the first, and at Weitzell's
Mill on the Reedy Fork, where they made a stand,
the back mountain men and some 'Virginia Militia,
46
362
CLINTON-CORNWALL1S CONTROVERSY
a BF read
Reinforce
ment
b V reads on
c breads the
d F inserts
and
e F reads
Quaker's
f Spread
loiks
g V inserts
the
h V reads
which
i BFS end
&c Corn-
wallis
V ends &c
Signed
Cornwallis
suffered considerably with little loss on our side ;
but a timely and precipitate retreat, over the Haw,
prevented the latter. I knew that the Virginia
Reinforcements were bupon their march, and it was
apparent that the Enemy would, if possible, avoid
risquing an Action before their arrival.
The neighbourhood of the Fords of the Dan in their
Rear, and the extreme difficulty of subsisting cmy Troops
in that exhausted Country, putting it out of my power to
force them, my resolution was, to give our Friends time
to join us, by covering their country as effectually as pos
sible, consistent with the subsistence of the Troops, still
approaching the communication with our Ship
ping in Cape Fear River, which I saw it would soon
become indispensibly necessary to open, on account
of the sufferings of the Army, from the want of
Supplies of every kind ; dat the same time, I was
determined to fight the Rebel Army, if it approached
me, being convinced, that it would be impossible
to succeed in that great object of our arduous
Campaign, the calling forth the numerous loyalists
of North Carolina, whilst a doubt remained on their
minds of the superiority of our Arms. With these
views I had moved to the 'Quaker Meeting in the
ffork of gDeep River on the 13th, and on the 14th
I received the information, which occasioned the
movement, Hhat brought on the Action at Guildforcl,
of which I shall give your Lordship an account in
a separate letter.
I have the honour to be, Hvith great respect, My
Lord Your Lordships Most obedient & Most humble
Servant COENWALLIS.
Right Honorable Lord George Germain &ca &ca &ca
58B: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, ANSWER [23] p 85.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 7, to Lord
George Germain, dated Guildford, March 17, 1781.
Same as ^Vb. 58 with variations shown in margins pp 355-362.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 363
58?: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, I'J March 1781, TARLETON^? 259.
Copy. — From Earl Cornwallis to Lord George Ger
main, dated Guildford, March lyth, 1781.
Same as No. 58 with variations shown in margins pp 355-362.
583: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, Copy PA 309/39.
In margin Guildford North Carolina 17th March
1781. Lord Cornwallis (N° 7.) R/ 4th June.
Mem. at end Inclosure. Copy of a Proclamation
issued at Hillsborough, in North Carolina, by Earl
Cornwallis. dated 2Oth Feb^ 1781.
Same as No. 58 with variations shown in margins pp 355-362.
58v: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, Copy RI 19/80.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Lord G. Ger
main Guilford i7th March 1781.
Same as No. 58 with variations shown in margins pp 355-362.
59 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, LS PA 157/213.
ANSWER [35] J9 85.
Endorsed N° 8 Guildford North Carolina 1 7th March
1781 Lord Cornwallis (N° 8) R/ 4th June 4 Inclosures.a a see u- 365
Entd
N° 8b Guildford 17* March, 1781.
•My Lord, I have the satisfaction to inform
Your Lordship, that His Majesty's Troops under my
command, obtained a signal Victory on the 15th Ins*
over the Eebel Army, commanded by General
Greene.
In pursuance of my intended Plan, communicated
to your Lordship in my Dispatch, N° 7, I had
encamped on the 1 3th Ins* at the dQuaker Meeting6,
between the forks of Deep River. On the 14* I
received information, that General Butler with a
body of North-Carolina Militia, and the expected
Reinforcements from Virginia, said to consist of a
Virginia State Regiment, a Corps of Virginia eighteen
months men, 3000 Virginia Militia, & Recruits for
the Maryland Line, had joined General Greene ; and
that the whole Army, which was reported to amount
364 CLINTOX-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
to 9 or 10,000 men, was marching to attack the
British Troops. During the Afternoon intelligence
was brought, which was confirmed in the night, that
he had advanced that day to Guildford, about 12
miles from our Camp. Being now persuaded that he
had resolved to hazard an engagement ; after detaching
Lieu* Colonel Hamilton with our Waggons, and
Baggage, escorted by his own Eegiment, a detach
ment of 100 Infantry, and 20 Cavalry, towards Bell's
Mill on Deep River, I marched with the rest of the
Corps, at day break, on the morning of the 1 5th, to
a P omitt to meet the Enemy, or ato attack them in their encamp
ment. About four miles from Guildford, our
advanced Guard, commanded by Lieu1 Colonel
Tarleton, fell in with a Corps of the Enemy, con
sisting of Lee's Legion, some back Mountain Men,
and Virginia Militia, which he attacked with his
usual good conduct and spirit, and defeated: And
continuing our March, we found the Rebel Army
posted on rising Grounds about a mile and a half
from the Court House. The Prisoners taken by
Lieu* Colonel Tarleton, having been several days
with the advanced Corps, could give me no account
of the Enemy's Order or position, and the Country
people were extremely inaccurate in their description
of the Ground. Immediately between the head of
the Column, and the Enemy's Line, was a consider
able Plantation, one large Field of which, was on
our left of the Road, and two others, with a Wood
of about two hundred yards broad between them, on
our right of it; beyond these fields the Wood
continued for several miles to our right. The Wood
beyond the Plantation in our front, in the Skirt
of which the Enemy's first Line was formed, was
about a mile in depth, the road then leading into an
extensive space of bcleared Ground about Guildford
reads Court House. The Woods on our right and left
cwere reported to be impracticable for Cannon, but
as that on our right, appeared dto be most open, I
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 365
resolved to attack the left Wing of the Enemy, and
whilst my disposition was making for that purpose, I
ordered Lieutenant Macleod to bring forward the
Guns and cannonade their Center. The Attack was
directed to be made in the following Order.
On the right, the Regiment of Bose, and the 7ist
Regiment, led by Major General Leslie, and sup
ported by the Ist Battalion of Guards, on atheir left
the 23rd and 33rd Regiments, led by Lieu* Colonel
AVebster, & supported by the Grenadiers and 2nd
Battalion of Guards, commanded by Brigadier
General O'hara, The Yagers and Light Infantry of
the Guards remained in the wood on the left of the
Guns, and the Cavalry in the road, ready to act as
circumstances bmight require. Our preparations
being made, the Action began "about half an hour
past one in the afternoon ; Major General Leslie
alter being obliged, by the great extent of the
enemy's Line, to bring up the Ist Battalion of Guards
to the right of the Regiment of Bose, soon defeated
every thing before him ; Lieu1 Colonel Webster,
having joined the left of Major General Leslie's
division, was no less successfull in his front, when on
finding that the left of the 33rd was exposed to a
heavy fire from the right Wing of the Enemy, he
changed his front to the Left, & being supported by
the Yagers & Light Infantry of the Guards, attacked
& routed it. The Grenadiers & 2nd Battalion of
dGuards, moving forward to occupy the Ground, left
vacant by the movement of Lieu1 Colonel Webster.
All the Infantry being now in the Line, Lieu*
Colonel Tarleton, had directions to keep his Cavalry
compact, and not to charge without positive orders,
except to protect any of the Corps from the most
evident danger of being defeated. The excessive
thickness of the woods rendered our bayonets of
little use, and enabled the broken enemy to make
frequent stands, with an irregular fire, which occa
sioned some loss, and to several of the Corps, great
366 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
delay, particularly on our right, where the Ist
• BFftutrt Battalion of 'Guards, and Regiment of Bose, were
warmly engaged, in front, flank, & rear, with some
of the enemy, that had been routed on the first
attack, and with part of the extremity of their left
wing> which by the closeness of the bwood had
been passed unbroken, The 7ist Eegiment, &
lheinsert' Grenadiers & 2nd Battalion of 'Guards not knowing
what was passing on their right, and hearing the
fire advance on their left, continued to move
forward, the Artillery keeping pace with them
on the road followed by the Cavalry. The 2nd
Battalion of Guards first gained the clear ground
near Guildford Court house, and found a Corps of
Continental Infantry, much superior in number,
formed in the open field on the left of the Road.
Glowing with impatience to signalize themselves,
they instantly attacked and defeated them, taking
two six pounders, but pursuing into the wood with
too much ardour, were thrown into confusion by a
heavy fire, and immediately charged and driven back
into the field, by Colonel Washington's Dragoons,
with the loss of the six pounders they had taken.
The Enemy's Cavalry was soon repulsed, by a well
directed fire from two three pounders, just brought
up by Lieu* Macleod, & by the appearance of the
Grenadiers of the Guards, and of the 7ist Regiment
which having been impeded by some deep dRavines,
were now coming out of the wood, on the right of
the Guards, opposite to the Court house. By the
spirited exertions of Brigre General O'hara, tho'
lteinserts wounded, the 2nd Battalion of 6Guards was soon
rallied, & supported by the Grenadiers, returned to
the charge with the greatest alacrity ; The 23rd
Regiment arriving at that instant from our left, £
Lieu* Colonel Tarleton having advanced with part
of the Cavalry, the enemy were soon put to flight,
& the two six pounders once more fell into our
hands, two Ammunition Waggons, & two other six
a BF insert
wing
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 367
pounders, being all the Artillery they had in the
field, were likewise taken. About this time the 33rd
Regiment and Light Infantry of the Guards, alter
overcoming many difficulties, completely routed the
Corps, which was opposed to them, and put an end
to the Action in this quarter; The 23rd & 7 Ist
Regiments, with part of the Cavalry, were ordered
to pursue, the Remainder of the Cavalry was
detached with Lieu^Colonel Tarleton to our right,
where a heavy fire still continued, and where his
appearance & spirited attack, contributed much to
a speedy termination of the action. The Militia
with which our righta had been engaged, dispersed
in the woods, the Continentals went off by the
Reedy Fork, beyond which, it was not in my power
to follow them, as their Cavalry had suffered but
little ; our troops were excessively fatigued, by an
action which lasted an hour & a half, and our
bnumerous wounded, dispersed over an extensive
space of Country, required immediate attention:
The Care of our wounded, and °the total want Of cVraa*a
provisions in an exhausted Country, made it equally
impossible for me to follow the blow dnext day. The JhBeF insert
enemy did not stop untill they got to the Iron-works
on Troublesome Creek, 18 miles from the field of
Battle.
From our eown observation, and the best accounts *wn °mit
we could procure, we did not doubt but the Strength
of the enemy exceeded 7,000 men; Their Militia
composed their Line, with parties advanced to the
Rails of thefFields in their front, the Continentals ^Jdread
were posted obliquely in the rear of their right wing.
Their Cannon fired on us, whilst we were forming,
from the center of the Line of Militia but were
withdrawn to the Continentals before the Attack.
I have the honour to inclose to your Lordship, the
list of our killed and wounded ; Captain Schutz's
wound is supposed to be mortal, but the Surgeons
assure me, that none of the gother Officers aie in
b BFV omit
numerous
368 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
danger, and that a great number of the men will
soon recover. I cannot ascertain the loss of the
enemy, but it must have been considerable, between
2 & 300 dead were left upon the field ; many of
their wounded that were able to move, whilst we
were employed in the care of our own, escaped and
followed the routed enemy ; and our Cattle Drivers
anc^ af°raging parties have reported to me, that the
houses in a circle of 6 or 8 miles round us are full of
others ; Those that remained we have taken the best
care of in our power. We took few prisoners, owing
to the excessive thickness of the Wood facilitating
their escape, and every man of our army being
repeatedly wanted for Action.
The Conduct and Actions of the Officers and
Soldiers, that compose this little Army will do more
justice to their merit, than I can by words. Their
persevering intrepidity in Action, their invincible
patience in the hardships and fatigues of a march, of
above 600 miles, in which they have forded several
large Rivers, and numberless Creeks, many of which
would be reckoned large rivers in any other Country
in the world, without Tents or covering against the
Climate, and often without provisions, will sufficiently
manifest their ardent zeal for the honour and
interests of their Sovereign and their Country.
I have been particularly indebted to Major General
Leslie, for his gallantry and exertion in the Action, as
well as his Assistance in every other part of the
Service. The zeal & Spirit of Brigre General
O'hara, merit my highest commendations, for, after
receiving two dangerous wounds, he continued in the
field whilst the Action lasted ; By his earnest atten
tion on all other occasions, seconded by the Officers
and Soldiers of the Brigade, His Majesty's Guards are
no less distinguished by their order and discipline,
^^ ^ ^eir Spirit and valour.b
The Hessian Regiment of Bose deserves my warm
est praises for it's discipline alacrity and Courage,
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 369
and does honour to Major Du Buy who commands
it, and who is an Officer of superior merit.*
I am much obliged to Brigadier General Howard,
who served as Volunteer, for his spirited example
on all occasions. b
Lieu1 Colonel Webster conducted his Brigade like
an Officer of experience and Gallantry. Lieu*
Colonel Tarle ton's good conduct & spirit in the man
agement of his Cavalry, was conspicuous during
the whole action ; & Lieu* Macleod, who commanded
the Artillery, proved himself, upon this, as well as all
former occasions, a most capable & deserving Officer.
The attention and "exertion of my Aids-de-Camp, and
of all the other publick Officers of the Army, contri
buted very much to the success of the day.
I have constantly received the most zealous assis
tance from Governor Martin, during my command in
the southern district, hoping that his presence would
tend to incite the loyal Subjects of this Province to
take an active part with us, he has chearfully sub
mitted to the fatigues and dangers of our Campaign,
but his delicate constitution has suffered by his
publick spirit, for by the advice of the Physicians, he
is now obliged to return to England for the drecover-
ing his health.
This part of the Country is so totally destitute of
subsistence, that forage is not nearer than nine miles,
and the Soldiers have been two days without bread ;
1 shall therefore leave about 70 of the worst of
the wounded cases, at the New Garden Quaker Meet
ing house, with proper Assistance, & move the
remainder with the Army to-morrow morning to
Bell's Mill. I hope our friends will heartily take an
active part with us, to which I shall continue to
encourage them ; still approaching our shipping by
easy marches, that we may procure the necessary
Supplies for further operations, and lodge our sick
and wounded, where proper attention can be paid to
them.
47
a V reads
Broderick
b V ends &c.
Cornwallis
c ±>FS end
&c Corn
wallis
37°
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
This Dispatch will be delivered to Your Lordship
by my Aide-de-Camp Captain aBrodrick, who is a very
promising Officer, and whom I beg leave to recom
mend to Your Lordship's Countenance and Favour.
I have the honour'0 to be0 with great respect My
Lord Your Lordship's Most obedient & Most humble
Servant COENWALLIS.
593: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, ANSWER [35]^ 85.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Dispatch, No. 8, to Lord
George Germain, dated Guildford, iyth March, 1781.
Same as No. 59 with variations shown in margins pp 363-370.
59F: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, TARLETON^> 303.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 8, to Lord
George Germain, dated Guildford, iyth March, 1781.
Same as No. 59 with variations shoivn in margins pp 363-370.
598: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, Copy PA 309/53.
In margin Guildford North Carolina 1 7th March 1781.
Lord Cornwallis (N° 8.) E/ 4th June.
Mem. at end Inclosure. N° i. Return of Killed &
wounded in various actions preceding the Battle of
Guildford 15th March 1781. 2. Field Eeturn of the
Troops under the Command of L1 Gen1 Earl Cornwallis
in the action of 15 March 1781. 3. Eeturn of the
Killed & Wounded & Missing of the Troops under
the Command of Ll Gen1 Earl Cornwallis in the
Action of 15th March. 4. Eeturn of Ordnance Am
munition & Arms taken at the Battle of Guildford
15th March.
Same as No. 59 with variations sJiown in margins pp 363-370.
d one en
closure see ii.
59V : CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 17 March 1781, Copy RI 19/81.
Endorsed Copy Earl Cornwallis to Lord Geo : Germain
Guilford 1 7th March 1 78 1 .d
Same as No. 59 with variations shown in margins pp 363-370.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 371
60 CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, ANSWER [47] p 85.
'NORTH CAROLINA.
*By Charles Earl Cornwallis, Lieutenant- General of ^gjjf7
his Majesty's Forces, &c. &c. &c. Honourable
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS by the blessing of Almighty God, his
Majesty's arms have been crowned with signal success,
by the compleat victory obtained over the Rebel
forces on the i5th instant, I have thought proper to
issue this proclamation to call upon all loyal subjects
to stand forth, and take an active part in restoring
good order and government. And whereas it has
been represented to me that many persons in this
province who have taken a share in this unnatural
rebellion, but having experienced the oppression and
injustice of the Rebel government, and having seen
the errors into which they have been deluded by
falsehoods and misrepresentations, are sincerely
desirous of returning to their duty and allegiance, I
do hereby notify and promise to all such persons
(murderers excepted) that if they will surrender them
selves with their arms and ammunition, at head
quarters, or to the officer commanding cin the district cSom*tsin
contiguous to their respective places of residence, on
or before the 2Oth day of April next, they shall be
permitted to return to their homes, upon giving a
military parole, and shall be protected in their persons
and properties from all sort of violence from the
British troops, and will be restored as soon as possible
to all the privileges of legal and constitutional
government.
Given under my hand at head quarters, this i8th
day of March, dA.D. 1781, and in the twenty- i*°mit*±.».
first year of his Majesty's reign.
g 6CoRWALLIS.f
__ =.«^_ f ±(P end
6 OB: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 18 March 1781, TARLETON p 312. Godsavethe
Same as No. 60 with variations shown in margin p 371.
372 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
6 OF : CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 1 8 March 1781, Copy PA 157/247.
Endorsed Copy of A Proclamation issued in North
Carolina by Earl Cornwallis. dated the 1 8th of March
55°' 71p 1781- In Lord Cornwallis N° 9. 1 8th April.a
The same as No. 60.
6os: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 18 March 1781, Copy PA 140/95.
Endorsed Copy. Proclamation by Lieutenant General
The Earl Cornwallis. North Carolina, i8th March
Sea0' Q0p 1781- In Sir B> Clinton's N° 1 24."
Same as No. 60 with variations shown in margin p 371.
6ov: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, 18 March 1781, Copy HL No 17.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy. Proclamation by Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis. North Carolina i8th March 1781.
'- ' In Sir Hy Clinton's of 23d & 30 April & ist May 1781.°
N° 17.
Same as No. 60 with variations shown in margin p 371.
6oE: CORNWALLIS, PROCLAMATION, Copy ssi 87/4. see ii. 365.
6 1 AKBTJTHNOT TO ARNOLD, OBSERVATIONS [72 Ay?x\p 130.
Extract. — From Admiral Arbuthnot to General
Arnold, dated Chesapeak, March 19, 1781.
The French fleet sailed from Rhode-island on or
about the 8th instant, intending a co-operation with
Mr. Washington, to attack you. I followed them on
the loth, and came up with them on the i6th: an
action ensued of about an hour and an half, when they
fled off with their whole squadron.
I shall put to sea again immediately with the
squadron, and endeavour to bring them to a second
action. Should I be unable to do so, I shall return
with the squadron to New York, which must be
exposed in my absence, and I must withdraw the
ships that are now with you.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 373
62 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, 24 March 1781, ANSWER [87] p 87.
ANSWER [87] j» 87, OBSERVATIONS [73 -4p'#]^? 130, with Clinton's
Manuscript Notes from each.
Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general Phillips,
dated New-York, March 24, 1781.
[Received by Earl Cornwallis at Petersburg, May 20.]
Dear Sir, al believe that Lord Cornwallis has
finished his campaign, and, if report says true, very
handsomely, by taking all Greene's cannon, and re
covering the greatest part of his own men who had
been made prisoners by Mr. Greene. If that should
be the case, and Lord Cornwallis bdoes not want any
j» . , i . , J. should
co-operation to assist him, and you see no prospect
of striking an important stroke elsewhere, I shall
probably request you and General Arnold to return
to me, with such troops as I have already named in
my instructions. But all this will depend on the
information I shall receive from you, and your
opinion, respecting the post cat Portsmouth, and such cBreorf*of
others as you propose to establish on James river,
with their importance considered, either as assisting
Lord Cornwallis's operations, or connected with
those of the navy.d d B ttop'
When you return, you will be pleased to bring
with you a small proportion of howitzes, mortars,
cohorns, &c. so placed in the vessel in which they
are embarked, as to be ready to land directly, as it
is very likely we may proceed upon some operation
immediately on your arrival.
I believe Fayette is intrenched at Annapolis, and
that his corps does not now exceed nine hundred
men, though he started with thirteen hundred. You
may possibly attempt him in earnest : he will, at all
events, serve as a mask to your return to us.
6 You will probably hear from Lord Cornwallis be- <Bcontinue*
fore you determine on any attempt at a distance from
him. I wish much to know what ftroops he thinks
he can spare from the troops under his Lordship's spare
374 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
immediate orders ; for, till I do, 'tis impossible to
fix any plan. Three complete regiments will, I
hope, arrive at Charles-town in the course of a few
days, if Captain Elphinston should think it too early
in the season to come directly here ; and three more
are hourly expected from the West-Indies, both
which divisions will, of course, join me.
The French certainly expect an early reinforce
ment ; if it comes from Europe, we must, I think,
hear from thence long before it arrives1 : if from the
Havannah, copper-bottomed sloops or frigates, which
the Admiral will doubtless have on the look out, will
announce their arrival, and give you time to determine
what, in that case, awill be best to be done. bAnd here
i take the liberty of hinting to you, that (from the
appearance on the map) when you have once obtained
a naval force in Curratuck and Albemarle Sounds, by
holding the bridges of Pequimans and Pasquotank
rivers, you secure a short passage across the
Albemarle-sound, and communication with Lord
Cornwallis ; or, by destroying the bridges on those
rivers, you prevent the enemy's approach by the
bridge at North West landing.62'3
Upon those hints I request your opinion, in
cypher, as soon as possible. In the mean time I shall
prepare for what may probably be your determination,
after talking with Brigadier-general Arnold.
I beg you will be so good to forward the enclosed
to Lieutenant-colonel Moncrief by the first oppor
tunity to Charles-town, and that you will bring Mr.
laA The Enemys Fleet gener- pressed or threatened have re
ally brought the news of its tired by water to Wilmington,
arrival. 3aQ Surely this information
2aA surely this was no bad was thought of some importance
hint to Lord Cornwallis also had by L. Cornwallis & yet so little
he remained at Portsmouth hold- that immediately on his arrival
ing old Pt Comfort to secure the in Virginia He sent G. Leslie to
best naval station & had suffered prepare privately for evacuating
Genl Arnold to Continue his Portsmouth,
boat buildg : He might when
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 375
Fyers, of the corps of engineers, with you, when you
return to this place.
I have the honour to be &c. H. CLINTON.
P. S. Pray send Brigadier-general Arnold here by
the first good opportunity, if you should not have
particular occasion for his services.
626: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, OBSERVATIONS [73 Ap'x\p 130.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton to Major-general
Phillips, dated New York, March 24, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 62 as shown in margins pp 373-374.
63 PHILLIPS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [73 Ap'x\p 130.
Extract. — From Major-general Phillips to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Chesapeak, on board the Royal Oak,
in Lynhaven Bay, March 26, 1781.
The fleet containing the troops under my orders,
arrived off the Chesapeak yesterday, when Captain
Hudson gave the Orpheus liberty to make sail and
carry me into this bay, where we knew by intelligence
from frigates we met at sea, that Admiral Arbuthnot
was with his fleet.
Our fleet sailed from the Hook on Tuesday the
2Oth instant, and with variable winds, and good
weather, is arrived ; and now beating up to the ren
dezvous at Hampton, with hopes, not a certainty, of
getting there this evening.
With respect to intelligence, it is not in my power
to give you any at a certainty. I hear that at York
the rebels have been and are fortifying, and that
there are heavy cannon there.
376 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
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CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 377
65 PHILLIPS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [75 A^x\p 130.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Extract. — Major General Phillips to Sir Henry Clin
ton, K. B. dated Portsmouth, April 3, 1781.
I have from the moment of my landing here, pur
sued the first object of your Excellency's instruc
tions : " The security of the post upon Elizabeth
" river, near the mouth of James river."
And your Excellency may be assured, I shall use
every means to attain this very material purpose, so
necessary, and which alone can enable me, with four
thousand militia in our front and near us, to pursue
the second part of your instructions : " A move in
force upon the enemy's communications between
Virginia and North Carolina, at Petersburgh, in
assistance to Lord Cornwallis." And I shall do this
the moment it may be possible, consistent with the
security of the post on Elizabeth river.
It is unlucky for us, that we know so little of
Lord Cornwallis, in favour of whom, and his opera
tions we are directed by your Excellency to exert
our utmost attention. I shall do all in my power to
assist and co-operate with his Lordship, and shall
from inclination, as well as in obedience to your Ex
cellency's instructions, do all I can to effect this most
desirable end.
I apprehend from various rebel accounts that Lord
Cornwallis, although he kept the field, has suffered
very much after the action of the i5th ultimo, and
to be fortifying to the west of the Haw river, near
Guildford, which seems a good position, having that
river in front of the communication quite down to
Cross-Creek and Cape Fear.
Should his Lordship want support, he must in
course draw it from Charles-town to Cape Fear river,
by directing Lord Rawdon to abandon the frontier,
and keep only a garrison in Charles-town.
I embrace your idea, Sir, that should La Fayette
remain at Annapolis, which must proceed from the
48
378 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
enemy's fear of being attacked in Maryland, it will be
possible to carry him Annapolis and Baltimore ; and if
you will send me the British grenadiers and forty-
second regiment, I will, with almost certain hopes of
success, go upon the attempt ; and will make an ex
pedition in Virginia at the same instant, as shall effect
ually prevent any support from thence to Maryland.
I come now to the particulars of this post, and as
it is not possible in so short a time, to go through
the proper form of a regular report of the command
ing engineer, who came with me, I will, until that
can be done, very freely offer my opinion that it has
not been, I should imagine, properly explained to
your Excellency, by Generals Matthews and Leslie.
The object of the post, from its situation, respecting
James river and the Chesapeak, with its connection
with the waters to and in Albemarle sound, and the
consequent connections it may have with any army
in the Carolinas, are subjects I do not think myself
at liberty to touch upon. I mean to confine myself
merely to the locality of the post itself; and under
that description, I declare, I think the present situa
tion not calculated for a post of force, or for one for
a small number of troops. In the first idea, I think
three points should be taken, as at Mill Point and
Norfolk positively ; the third must depend on more
examination of the Elizabeth river, than I have yet
been able to give. These points taken would mutually
assist the navy stationed here, which might lay within,
and be protected ; and one point forced, a retreat is
left by the other two : and your Excellency will im
mediately observe, that it must require a large force
indeed, to attack the three points at once.
Should it be required by your Excellency merely
to keep a post here, without intending more than a
station, I think Mill Point, where the old fort stood,
well calculated for such a purpose; and it would
require not more than a strong battalion equal to six
hundred effective rank and file to be the garrison.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 379
In. both instances the Chesapeak must be secure,
for even allowing every exertion of defence against a
fleet, it would be difficult to preserve the river under
the first idea of an extensive plan. Under the latter,
I consider it scarcely to be done. Old Point Com
fort shall be explored, as it seems a point which a
small force might defend, and the shipping have scope
to act in, and by trying various methods of winds and
tides, would be able possibly to escape from even a
superior naval force ; whereas, once blocked up in
Elizabeth river, the ships must at last fall with the
post.
I come now to the Norfolk and Princess Ann
counties, where we cannot much depend for assis
tance. They are timorous, cautious, at best, but half
friends, and perhaps some, if not many, concealed
enemies. Supposing them perfectly ours, we should
not be able to arm more than five or six hundred
men, who would become a charge to us while we
remained, and being left, would be undone. At
present, they act a sort of saving game, but are of no
use to us. Upon the whole, Sir, it may be perceived
that I lean in favour of a small post, where the army
can assist the navy, and the latter have a chance of
escaping, supposing a superior force to arrive in the
bay; and where the post can be maintained with
five or six hundred men, for some time, even perhaps
till some reinforcement naval arid land might be sent
to raise a siege.1
la a marked perference for Old Point Comfort.
66 GERMAIN TO CLINTON, 4 April 1781, LS EI 22/92.
NARRATIVE [8]_p n.
Endorsed Duplicate No. 84, Lord George Germain
to Sir Henry Clinton Whitehall 4th April 1781.
received by the June 27th. On the
subject of operations to the Southward &c. 159.
380 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
aNo 84) Duplicate. Whitehall 4th April 1781.
?YE begin '&**, Since my Letters to you by the March Packet,
X have received your's of the 24th of February by a
private Ship, and was much alarmed by the Extract
from the Newspaper inclosed in it, which gave an
account of Colonel Tarleton's having received a
Check ; I however had the Satisfaction to find, by
Dispatches I received three days afterwards from
Lord Cornwallis & Colonel Balfour, that although
the Newspaper Article was well founded, his Lord
ships Operations had not been suspended, but that
after obtaining two Advantages over the Kebels, in
one of which Colonel Tarleton commanded, his Lord
ship had passed beyond Salem in North Carolina.
The little Expedition to Cape Fear appears also to
have had all the Success & good Effects expected
from it, and as I am informed by the Master of the
Ship who brought me your Letter, that the Trans
ports were fallen down to receive the Troops you
intended sending into the Chesapeak, I have the
strongest Expectations that thro' General Arnold's
Cooperation the whole Country to the West of James
River is by this time recovered to His Majesty's
Possession.*
The Extraordinary Gazette published at New York
the 3d of February, found its way to England some
time before that which you inclosed, and as the Truth
of the account it contained could not be doubted, it
gave general and great Satisfaction ; Your Trans
mission of it, however gives it the Authenticity it
wanted, and I have in consequence received the
King's Commands to signify to you His Majesty's
Pleasure that you do acquaint Brigadier General
Arnold, Colonel Simcoe, & the other Officers and
Soldiers under his Command, that their Conduct &
Behaviour are approved by His Majesty. Some
private Accounts which I have seen efrom the Eastern
Side of the Chesapeak, and which appear to deserve
Credit, represent the Inhabitants fof Worcester,
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 381
Somerset and Accomack Counties, as refusing all
Obedience to the usurped Powers, and eagerly soli
citing for Arms, and an Opportunity of using them,
in Conjunction with the King's Forces, for the Re
storation of the Constitution. I hope they have
found means to make their Circumstances & Desires
known to you, for in the present low Condition of
Washington's Army the Opportunity of assisting
them is as favorable as could be wished.*
Our Intelligence from France bgives us Reason to
believe no part of the Land or Sea Force that has
been so long preparing at Brest will be sent directly
to North America. A Fleet consisting of 26 Sail of
the Line, under the Command of the Count de
Grasse, and Transports with from Seven to Twelve
Thousand Land Forces were ready to sail the 2Oth of
last Month, and it is said they did sail on the 22d.
Six of these Ships and 3,000 of the Troops are to go
to the East Indies, and all the others to the West
Indies, where their Islands are in great Distress for
want of Supplies, none of any Importance having
reached them from France this Year, & their usual
Resources thro' St. Eustatius being cut off by the
Capture of that Island. The Lateness of the Season c B deffins
will I imagine prevent Monsieur de Grasse under
taking anything against the King's Possessions dthere,
but it is probable as soon as he has thrown Supplies Indies
into the several Islands, he will proceed to North
America, and join the french Forces at Rhode Island,
& endeavour to revive the expiring Cause of Re
bellion ; but as Sir George Rodney's Force is ebut •Bom«*but
little inferior to his, and he will be watchful of his
Motions, I am not apprehensive he will give him
time to do you any material Injury before he comes
to your Succour/ f ends
The Packet you informed me was to sail in a few
days after the private Ship is not yet arrived.
Our grand Fleet under Admiral Darby was waiting
off Cape Clear the 25th of last Month for the
382 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Victuallers from Corke, which were detained there
by contrary Winds, but we hope they got out the 26th.
I am happy to learn, from private Letters, that the
Associated Refugees are fully sensible of the kind
Attention you have shewn them, and express great
Impatience to shew their Zeal for the King's Service
by some vigorous Attack upon the Sea Coasts of the
"Revolted Provinces which the want of Shipping only
prevents them from undertaking. Should the
Admiral continue to find it difficult to supply them, I
could wish you would enable them to purchase what
may be necessary, rather than they should remain
inactive, and altho' I only desired Rations for them
while they were in actual Employment, it will be
equally necessary to furnish them with them while
they are collecting, and preparing for Service, and to
allow them to give to all such as may join them upon
a FRM end their Expeditions.*
bs^Eend I am,b Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. GEO : GEEMAIN.
66s: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, NARRATIVE [8] p n.
Extract from Lord George Germain's letter to Sir
Henry Clinton, April 4, 1782.
This extract from No. 66 is shown in margin p 381.
66r: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, Fr trans GERMAIN^) 29.
Extrait d'une lettre du Lord George Germain a Sir
Henri Clinton, chevalier du Bain, datee de Whitehall,
le 4 avril 1781.
Same as No. 66 with variations shown in margins pp 380-382.
66s: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, Draft PA 139/337.
Endorsed Draft to Sir Henry Clinton 4th April 1781.
(N° 84.) Entd 42. dup.
Same as No. 66 with variations shoivn in margins pp 380-382.
66 v: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, Copy PA 432/281.
In margin (N° 84) Sir Henry Clinton.
Same as No. 66 with variations shown in margins pp 380-382.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 383
6 5 E : GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, Copy SACKVILLE i o/ 1 6.
./# margin Sir Henry Clinton (N° 84)
Same as No. 66 wi£/i variations shown in margins pp 380-382.
66n: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, Extract LANSDOWNE 68/6.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain to Sir Henry Clinton dated 4th April 1781.
N°42. Ex.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain
to Sir Henry Clinton K.B Dated Whitehall 4th April
1781.
Same as No. 66 with variations shown in margins pp 380-382.
66M: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 4 April 1781, Extract HL NO 42.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain to Sir Henry Clinton dated 4th April 1781.
N°. 42.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord George
Germain to Sir Henry Clinton K.B. Dated Whitehall
4th April 1781.
Same as No. 66 with variations shown in margins pp 380-382.
67 CLINTON TO GERMAIN, 5/20 April 1781, LS PA 140/25.
NARRATIVE [97]^ 57, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed New York, 5th & 2Oth April 1781. Sir
Henry Clinton N° 123. R/23d June. 5 Inclosures.a ***il 367
Entd.
bN°. 123. New York April 5th 1781. <£**"**
°MyLord, dln my Dispatch, marked N° 121, I had
the honor to inform Your Lordship that the Expedi
tion under the Command of Major General Phillips
sailed for the Chesapeak on the 2Oth Ultimo. And
a Letter I have this day received from that General
Officer affords me the pleasure of acquainting You
that he arrived with the Troops at Portsmouth on
the 26th without meeting with any accident on his
Voyage.
Not having been favored with any Letter from
Vice Admiral Arbuthnot since that of the 2 Ist
384 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Ultimo (of which I had the honor to transmit
Your Lordship a Copy) I cannot communicate to
You any other intelligence of the Proceedings of the
Fleet under his Command, than that they were lying
a F omits of jn Lynhaven Bay the 3ist. — That aof the French (it is
reported here, and universally credited) returned to
Rhode Island on the 26th — but it has not been yet
properly authenticated.
I have the satisfaction to acquaint Your Lordship
that another Rebel Mail has been intercepted, which
has given me very important information, Copies of
those Letters which appear most interesting, I have the
honor to transmit to Your Lordship with this Dispatch.
I have likewise the honor to inclose a Hand Bill
published at Philadelphia, containing the Account of
an Engagement between Lord Cornwallis & the Rebel
General Green, near Guildford Court House in North
Carolina, on the 15th of March. Wherein it appears
from their own confession that His Lordship has
gained a very considerable advantage — and, as they
acknowledge so much, we shall without doubt find it
of much greater consequence when we receive Lord
Cornwallis's Account of the Action ; particularly with
respect to the number of Prisoners he has taken.
Major General Phillips's arrival in Virginia so very
opportunely after this Event will most probably pro
duce the happiest Effect, especially as he reports to
me that the Vice Admiral has allotted an adequate
Naval Force for the Service of the Chesapeak, which
I hope will effectually enable the Major General to
carry into as speedy execution as possible the Opera
tions recommended to him in my Instructions- — the
principal, and immediate object of which, in all the
Expeditions sent thither, has been the favoring those
of Lord Cornwallis in Carolina.
By the arrival of my Aid de Camp Lieut* Colonel
Bruce, who delivered to me the Original of Your
Lordship's Dispatch Marked N° 71, I am made
acquainted with the Reinforcements His Majesty has
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 385
been graciously pleased to order for the Army under
my Command. The three Battalions from Corke will,
I hope, by this time have got to Charlestown ; and will
probably have been directed by Lord Cornwallis to
proceed to Cape Fear River. The other Three that
went by the way of the West Indies, I have reason to
believe arrived at Barbadoes in January last ; and as
Lieut1 Colonel Bruce tells me they had positive
Orders to join me without delay, I Hatter myself that
it will not be long before they arrive on this Coast.
Should these also touch at Carolina, I am persuaded
Lord Cornwallis will not detain them there, nor
indeed the first three unless his Lordship should find
that circumstances absolutely require it.
aAfter the Reduction of Charlestown, Lord Corn-
wallis informed me that he thought the force I left
with him fully competent to the defence of South,1*2'3
and most probably the Reduction of North, Carolina.
I had therefore at that time no other Intention,
(threatned as we were by the expected arrival of a
French Fleet & Army bat Rhode Island) than to send bBm*rfs il
an Expedition into Chesapeak merely by way of
making a diversion in his Lordship's favor, until more
solid Operation might take place — which I was in
hopes that adequate Reinforcements4*5 from Europe
would have enabled me to undertake early in the
present Year. Events6*7*8*9*10 however, notwithstand-
lc in Georgia & S. Carolina 4i Leslie 3000.
2b 11306 mn Lesle 5c 3000
Arnold 2500 6i Fergusons defeat.
Phillips 3000 7c The loss of Ferguson and
Voight 1 1 oo Consequences.
8d Ferguson's defeat, & the
17,906 consequences. S. Carolina thrown
3b When 17,906 men had back in Rebellion,
been detatched to the South- 9b Fergusons misfortune,
ward, besides the 3 Regts from lost L. C. all the militia, threw
Ireland, & stgd S. H. C. arm, the province back in Rebellion
taken from him in 78. what could left the N. Carolinians to be mas-
remain at New York, not 12.000. sacred, and was the first great
to guard all those Islands & loss of his command,
detain Mr Roch, &c &c. I0c Events underlined.
49
386
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a B omits to
Lordship
b B runs on
d B omits to
1*00
ing the very glorious Exertions which were made at
Camden, altered Lord Cornwallis's Situation so much,
as to make it necessary for him to call the Corps I
had sent to Chesapeak with General Leslie11 (and
which I had put under his Lordship's Orders) to a
nearer Co-operation. — Being therefore still desirous to
secure a Post in that Bay, to cover the King's
Frigates which might be acting there ; and at the
same time wishing to give Lord Cornwallis every
assistance in my power, I sent thither another
Detachment12 under the Orders of Brigadier General
Arnold,13'14 — which, tho' not so considerable as the
former,15 met with the fullest Success ; aas I have
already had the honor to inform Your Lordship ; and
will 1 doubt not have greatly aided the movements of
the Army in Carolina.b
General Washington having detached a Body of
Troops to the Southward, and the French having
embarked in their Fleet another from their Army at
Rhode Island, with an apparent intention of interrupt
ing our Operations in Virginia, and the Carolinas, I
was induced to send to the Chesapeak another16
Expedition, drawn principally from the Elite of my
Army, under Major General Philips17. All cthese
several Detachments18'19 Your Lordship will perceive
are acting, either with, or in favor of Lord Cornwallis.
But, as General Washington's Letter to Mr Harrison,
a Copy of which Your Lordship will see amongst the
intercepted Letters inclosed, intimates that there will
not be opposed to his Lordship above Two Thousand
Continentals more than General Green had with him
before d(which I have reason to believe could not
exceed 1 200,) I am led to hope, that when his Lord
ship has established himself in North Carolina, a
very considerable Portion20 of his Army may be spared
He Leslie underlined. 16c another underlined.
12c detachment underlined. 17a 2700.
13ac 2500. 18b 3500.
14i Arnold 2500. 19i 3500.
15b 2400. 20c 3000.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 387
to assist in carrying into Execution such further
Operations as Lord Cornwallis may have to Propose,
or the whole, or such part as shall be found practic
able of those I ahad designed, and accordingly ex-
plained21 to Major General Phillips in some Conver
sations I had with him before his departure,b the
Substance of which I have the honor to inclose for
Your Lordship's information.0 GV ends
It will not, I am persuaded, escape Your Lordship's
observation, that these many & considerable Detach
ments from the part of the Army under my immediate
Command will have reduced it much under what I
think absolutely necessary, even for the defence of
this Post; especially since the supposed Return of
the French to Rhode Island. But whilst we remain
Superior at Sea, I shall of course be under no
apprehensions ; And should a fair opportunity offer
of acting offensively with the Small force, (which
might possibly be spared for a Movement of short
duration in the neighbourhood of this Post) I shall
not fail to make use of it.
I feel myself, My Lord, particularly nattered by the
manner in which Your Lordship does me the honor
of expressing Yourself in Your Letter of the 5th of
December, respecting a Plan, which had it succeeded
would certainly have had the most important conse
quences. And I may, with truth, presume to say,
Your Lordship does but Justice to my Zeal, in sup
posing, that I shall not let slip any favorable oppor
tunity of rendering His Majesty and my Country so
essential a Service, as the securing (even by a regular
Attack) the important Post of West Point, whenever
the Attempt can be made with propriety. — As to
Brigadier General Arnold's dOpinions regarding this
business, I can only say, that whatever he may have
represented to Your Lordship, Nothing he has yet
communicated to me on the subject, has convinced me
that the Rebel Forts in the Highlands can be reduced
21c accordingly explained underlined.
388 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
by SL few days regular Attack. But, even if that had
been my own opinion, — to have attempted them
when Washington was in the neighbourhood with
twice the Force I could have marched against them,
exclusive of the numbers which might have been
readily collected in the three Populous & Warlike
Provinces adjoining, and the support he might have
received from the French Armament at Rhode Island,
would surely have been so very unjustifiable, that I
trust the impropriety of the Measure under such cir
cumstances must be obvious to Your Lordship. Nor
would it have been practicable during the Winter
Months for reasons equally manifest. However, if
General Arnold convinces me now, in the present
reduced State of the Rebel Army, that Success is
probable (for to fail would be Death to our Cause in
the present Stage of the War,) I shall most likely be
induced to make the Attempt. I have therefore re
quested that General Officer to send his Plan of
Operations to me without delay, and to follow, or
accompany it himself. In the meantime I am pre
paring for every Exertion within the Compass of my
very reduced Force — Which after the several large
Detachments sent to the Southward, Amounts to no
more than 6,275, Auxiliary Troops, 4,527, Regular
British, and 906, Provincials, fit for Service in the
field.
as continues »jf an Attempt upon the Forts in the Highlands
be reads on shall not bupon mature deliberation be thought
advisable, and nothing else offers in this Quarter, I
shall probably reinforce22 Major General Phillips,
LfdTirlct Directing him to carry on such Operations as may
a Breads most effectually favor those of Lord Cornwallis — dtill
e B reads on SOme Plan can be determined eupon for the Campaign.
For until I know his Lordship's Success, the Force
he can in consequence of it spare from the Carolinas,
and the certainty of the Arrival of the Six Regiments
intended to Reinforce us, it will be impossible to
22a 1500.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 389
decide finally upon it. Your Lordship will, however,
see by the inclosed Opinions what were the Opera
tions I had Planned for the ensuing Campaign, upon
the supposition that Lord Cornwallis succeeded in
the Carolinas, and was able to spare a Considerable
force from thence. With the 10,000, Men I requested,
I should not have had a doubt of Success, but in my
present reduced State and Prospects, I dare not flatter
myself with any ; and if the French should abe still "
reinforced, Your Lordship will I am persuaded judge
our Situation to be even Critical. For with regard
to our Efforts in the Chesapeak, Your Lordship
knows how much their Success and even the safety
of the Armament there will depend upon our having
a decided Naval23 Superiority24 in these Seas. And I
bam therefore fully persuaded that every Precaution
. •> . therefore
will be taken to give me at least timely JNotice 01 the <**"<>*
.O J doubt that
contrary being likely to happen, as my Ignorance ot
such an Event might be most fatal25'26'27 in its con
sequences.28
The Reinforcement I asked for was only what I
Judged to be barely adequate to the Services required
— And I most sincerely wish it had been possible to
have sent it in the full29 extent of numbers, and in
the time30 I requested,0 as our Prospects would in that
case have certainly been brighter. But the present
reduced State of Washington, the little probability .
. f J d B inserts
there is 1 hope of an Augmentation to the rrench
Armament, and the certainty there is I ehope also of
the Six British Regiments and One Thousand Eecruits hope oT
IO . Breads
•mining me in a Very short time,31 together with the aisohcpe
tl •/ j Q OlflitS
Expectations I have of Lord Cornwallis's Success in ve*?rea(fs
Carolina enabling hhis Lordship to send me a con-
23c decided naval underlined. 26g too Fatal it proved.
24b Baltimore Philadelphia 27c fatal underlined.
& finally assembling friends on 28fiklmnopqrs as was the case
Delaware neck, perfectly safe 29c full underlined.
against a Temporary naval supe- 30c time underlined.
riority of the enemy. 31b none of them ever came.
25b as alas it did prove !
3QO CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
siderable Reinforcement from thence, render the
i Bread* Appearance of my Situation less Critical. — And I
appearances ,*•%.. v -, -. / -,- , , .-, -, T7-.
b B inserts shall bonly add, My Lord, that whilst the Kins: does
therefore _ , » ' • i i /-N ir>i-
me the honor to trust me with the Command of this
Army, I will employ it to the utmost °extent of my
poor Abilities for the promoting his Service — taking
the liberty however to32 represent (as I think it my
^x reads duty) what advantages dmight be obtained by an
Additional Force, and what Evils may be appre-
e B ends hended from the want of a sufficient One6
It gave me, My Lord, great Satisfaction to be
informed in Your Lordship's Dispatch, N° 71, that
Vice Admiral Arbuthnot was appointed to relieve Sir
Peter Parker on the Jamaica Station. And I confess
that I wait with some impatience for that Event
taking place — as every land Movement in the present
stage of the War depends so entirely upon the assist
ance and the Cooperation of the Navy, that unless it
is given in the extent, and with the dispatch required,
the hoped for Success will but too often escape us.
But I shall for the present decline to give Your
Lordship any further trouble, than to express my
gratitude for the gracious attention with which my
Royal Master has been pleased to honor my Repre
sentations — as I am in the hope of being soon
relieved from my Anxieties on that Subject. — for
unless that shall be the Case, and the promised
Reinforcement arrives soon from England, I shall
be constrained, tho' reluctantly, to Avail myself of
the Permission His Majesty has been graciously
pleased to give me to resign this Command, which
I humbly presume I ought to hold no longer than
whilst I have a prospect of doing it with advantage
to His Service, and to my own honour — the contrary
of which, Your Lordship is sensible, may happen
when there is a want of Confidence between the
Commanders in Chief of the Land and Sea Forces.
April 2Oth. — As the Vice Admiral, who returned
S2c printed present, altered to represent
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 391
here on the ioth Instant, informed me he had sent a
Frigate to England, and Major General Phillips will
probably have taken that opportunity to communicate
to Your Lordship the Rebel Accounts of Lord Corn-
wallis's Success, I deferred sending the Packet, in
the hopes of soon receiving the Confirmation of it
from his Lordship, from whom I have not heard since
his Letter of the i8th January.*
I have the honor to be,b With the greatest Ee-
spect Your Lordship's Most obedient and Most
humble Servant H. CLINTON.
Eight Honble Lord George Germain.
6yB: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 5 April 1781, NARRATIVE [97] p 57.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract from Sir Henry Clinton's Letter to Lord
George Germain. April 5th, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 67 as shown in margins pp 385-390.
67F: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 5 April 1781, Copy PA 309/93.
In margin New York 5th & 2Oth April 1781, Sir
Henry Clinton N° 123. Ed 23d June
Mem. at end Inclosures. N° i . Substance of Opinions
by Sir H. Clinton to Majr Gen1 Phillips 2. Copies
of two Letters from a Philadelphia Eebel Paper 3 1 st
March 1781 3. Copy of an intercepted Letter from
Gen1 Washington. 23d March 1781 4. Ditto 27th
March 1781 5. Ditto 28th"*March 1781.
/Same as No. 67 with variations shown in margins pp 383-391.
678: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 5 April 1781, Copy RI 22/93.
Endorsed N° 123 Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George
Germain New York April 5th 1781. Original ^ the
Thynne Packet Duplicate ¥ the Confederate 2 1 1
Same as No. 67 with variations shoivn in margins pp 383-391.
67 v: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 5 April 1781, Extract HL No 10.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton
to Lord George Germain dated New York 5th April eforen.
1781.° E/ 2 3d June. N° i o f *™s
392 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Begins Extract from a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to
Lord George Germain dated New York 5th April 1781.
This extract from No. 67 is shown in margins pp 383-387.
68 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, OBSERVATIONS [79 Apx] p 130.
Copy. — Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general
Phillips, dated New- York, April 5, 1781.
Dear Sir, I need not say how important success
in the Highlands would be. I beg you will without
loss of time, consult General Arnold upon the subject.
I beg I may have his project, and your opinion, as
well as his, respecting it, as soon as possible. When
I have considered it, and if I determine to undertake
it, I will send for him ; and if operation should be at
a stand in the Chesapeak at the time, I will request
you also to be of the party ; the proportion of artillery
I desired you to make, will of course be ready.
P. S. If General Arnold does not think it expe
dient at this time to attempt it, which however, I
should be sorry for, perhaps a combined move between
us against Philadelphia, may take place. You, by
landing at the head of Elk ; I, at Newcastle, or
Chester ; — if the first, General Arnold must let me
have his plan as soon as possible, and be ready to
follow it himself, or may bring it, if you can spare him.
69 BALFOUR TO CLINTON, 7 April 1781, Copy RI 19/65.
OBSERVATIONS [82 Aj?x\p 130, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Copy Charles Town April 7th 1781.
&E begins a;$ir, I am honored with your Letters of the 2d of
iitheads January & b9th of last Month as also with one of the
c Breads j^th Ultimo, by your Excellency's "Direction from
directions ~ *..../»«' •
d Estops Capt Smith.*
About a Week since the Fleet from England
sailed, & as only such Transports as were wholly
unfit for Service went home with it, I am happy in
this respect to have complied with your Excellency's
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 393
Intentions. Those that can be spared from this will
be sent with the Convoy to New York, and only the
Prison Ships remain here.
I took the Opportunity of the Assurance's Fleet
being obliged to Water, to take out the Cloathing for
the British Regiments here, & likewise some for the
Provincial Troops stationed & raising in the Southern
Provinces. And as the want of all kinds of Ordnance
Stores, especially small Arms, was great, & the de
mands for them pressing I have taken the Liberty of
procuring a small Supply from the Juliana, the particu
lars of which will be transmitted by Major Traile ; but
must agreeable to the Wish of Lord Cornwallis re
quest in the strongest manner a further Quantity of
small Arms, the Consumption of which is very consider
able, from the frequent Loss of them in Action, and
the Arming of New Levies and Militia both here and
in Georgia. To which I must add my having been
obliged to send 1000 Stand to Cape Fear & the total
unfitness for Service of those left at this Place.
aAs Lord Cornwallis is in the greatest want of every
Supply, I have sent him to Cape Fear what cou'd be
procured here. And as he will have many Calls bm the
Hospital, in consequence of the late Marches & Action,
I have taken Care to furnish a Supply of Officers and
Stores to that Department at Wilmington, & shall by
that way forward to his Lordship "your1 Excellency's
Dispatches whenever an Occasion offers.*12*3'4'5 IB end*
Idf your Excellency's Dis- me also letters from L. Corn-
patches underlined. wallis of the ioth April. Why
2f that occasion did offer but did not that ship carry my dis-
S H C dispatches were not sent. patches to L. Cornwallis, or the
3b it would seem no oppor- Speedy packett or the Runner by
tunity offered before the 24th which Lord Cornwallis says he
but the Amphitrite & Swallow had received dispatches from Col.
both sailed for Cape Fear & Balfour on the 22<1 of April,
came to N York bringing letters 5c this very man of war you
from L Cornwallis to me prooff knew was going to Cape Fear
they might have carried these why did you not send the dis-
dispatches. patches by it, or by the Speedy
4a this Amphitrite brought packet.
50
italics to
Dispatches
394 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
The very extensive Demands here for Money have
hitherto been mostly answered by Government Bills
of Exchange which till lately passed current at the
rate of 4/8 ^ Dollar. But the Merchants are at
present unwilling to receive them at a less discount
than they bear at New York. However as their wish
is only to have the Exchange the same at both
Places, they have agreed to continue it as usual until
this point is adjusted, & I can be honored with your
Excellency's Commands on this essential Subject.
I do myself the honor to transmit your Excellency
the Copy of a Letter from Captain McNamara, of
His Majesty's Sloop Hound, by which will be seen
the Danger which threatens W. Florida. On receiv
ing this account I immediately forwarded the same
to Governor Dalling & General Vaughan, that if
possible some Aid might be afforded by them to the
Garrison of Pensacola, and have sent to Sfc Augustine
such Supplies of Ammunition & Provisions as cou'd
be spared from this ; which, together with a strong
Galley sent there, the Presence of L* Col1 Clarke, &
a small Reinforcement he takes with him from
Savannah, will I trust give Security to that Place.
Subsequent to these Advices, Information has
been received by an Express, to a Merchant at
Augusta that about the ioth Ultimo, the Spanish
Fleet arrived at Pensacola ; that the Army, nearly
2000, was landed on Roses Island, £ that the Ships
of War were Cannonading the Works on Red Cliffs.
Enclosed I have the honor to transmit the Pro
ceedings of a General Court Martial held here, &
which from the occasion for it, your Excellency will
judge to have been unavoidable.
In some of my former Letters I have had occasion
to mention to your Excellency the Inroads which the
Enemy were daily making into the Heart of this
Province, & the distresses, both to the People of the
Country and Army, which attended them. I am
therefore sorry the occasion still exists for the like
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 395
Informations ; owing in a great Measure to the
Extent of the Communications, & the want of
Cavalry (for which there are no Appointments here)
to cover them from the Incursions of small Parties ;
which tho' singly of no Moment, yet produce when
so often occurring the worst Consequences.
Lieu* Sutherland, of the Engineers is now with
Major Craig ; but shall be sent to New York, when
ever he can be got at, agreeable to your Excellency's
Directions.
Tho' my Lord Eawdon has the honor to communi
cate the Accounts of Lord Cornwallis's Victory over
the Rebels at Guilford. I cannot deny myself the
honor of congratulating your Excellency on an Event
so fortunate in its Consequences, & so reputable to
the Army serving under your Command.
I have the Honor &c (Signed) N. BALFOUR.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton
696 : BALFOUR to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [82 Ap'x] p 130.
With Clinton 's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to Sir Henry
Clinton, received by the Amphitrite man of war,
dated Charles-Town, April 7, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 69 as shown in margins pp 392-393.
70 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 10 April 1781, LS RI 19/66.
ANSWER [9] p 85, OBSERVATIONS [84 Ap'ai] p 130, REPLY [6] p 141.
With Clintons Manuscript Notes from ANSWER and REPLY.
Endorsed Duplicate. Earl Cornwallis to Sir. H.
Clinton, K.B. April ioth 1781. recd 22d May 1781 by
the Speedy Packet N° 148.
"Duplicate. bCamp near Wilmington ioth April 1781
°Sir, dl am just informed that I have a chance of ^
sending a few lines to New York by the Amphi-
trite,1*2 but as it depends upon my being expeditious,
laA by this very Amphitrite 2bA why did not this same
he should have received my dis- Amphitrite carry my dispatches
patches as she brought me Col. to Lord Cornwallis, she left
Balfours receipt of them. Charlestown the 8th & brought
396
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a F stops
o ER run on
d E new f
I cannot attempt to give your Excellency a particular
account of the Winter's Campaign, or the battle of
Guildford.a I have however the satisfaction of in
forming you, that our military operations were uni-
b E reads at formly successfull ; and the Victory bof Guildford, al-
tho' one of the bloodiest of this War, was very com
plete. The Enemy gave themselves out for nine or
ten, & undoubtedly had seven thousand Men in the
field,3 upwards of two thousand of which, were
eighteen-months men, or Continentals.0
Our force was 1360 Infantry, rank & file, and
about 200 Cavalry.4'5'6 General Greene retreated
the night of the Action to the Iron-works, on
Troublesome Creek, eighteen miles .from Guildford,
leaving us four six-pounders, being all the Cannon
he had in the field. dThe fatigue of the Troops, and
the great number of wounded, put it out of my
power to pursue beyond the Reedy Fork, in the
Afternoon of the Action ; and the want of Provisions,
and all kinds of necessaries for the soldiers, made it
equally impossible, to follow the blow, "next day. I,
therefore, issued the inclosed Proclamation ; and,
having remained two days on the field of battle,
marched to Bell's-Mill on Deep-River, near part of
the Country, where the greatest number of our friends
were supposed to reside. Many of the Inhabitants
rode into Camp, shook me by the hand, said they
me Col. Balfour's receipt of them desertion to 1300. and after the
dated the yth of April, they all
but forbid L. Cornwallis going
into Virginia the Steady Packet
sailed the 13^ from C. Town to
L. Cornwallis at Wilmington but
my dispatches to him still not
sent ! ! !
3bA read what Gates, what
Green, what Ramsay say of the
wretched beings of Southern
militia.
4aA from 3200 when he
passed the Catawba in January
he is reduced by sickness and
eBERO
insert the
Victory, which was brilliant to
700. with those, without pro
visions or arms he invites by pro
clamation these poor people to
join him ! ! !
5bA passes Catawba with 3500
men but is reduced to 1300 at
Guildford.
6bA notwithstanding which
calls the poor people to join him
tho he had no arms to put in
their hand, provisions to subsist
them, and was at the moment in
precipitate retreat.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 397
were glad to see us, and to hear that we had beat
Greene, and then rode home again ; afor I could not
get 100 men in all the Kegulator's Country, to stay
with us, even as Militia.
With a third of my Army sick & wounded, which
I was obliged to carry in Waggons, or on horseback,
the remainder without Shoes, and worn down with
fatigue, I thought it was time to look for some place
of rest & refitment ; I, therefore, by easy Marches,7
taking care to pass through all the Settlements, that
had been described to me as most friendly, proceeded
to Cross-Creek.8 On my arrival there, I found, to
my great mortification, & contrary to all former
accounts, thatnt was impossible to procure any con
siderable quantity of provisions, and that there was
not four days forage within twenty miles :9'10 The
Navigation of Cape Fear bBiver, with the hopes of
which I had been flattered, was totally impracticable,
the distance from Wilmington by water being 150
miles, the breadth of the river seldom exceeding one
hundred yards, the banks generally high, and the In
habitants on each side, almost universally hostile.11'12
Under these Circumstances I determined to move
immediately to Wilmington.0 By this measure, the c0stop*
Highlanders have not had so much time as the people
of the upper Country, to prove the sincerity of their
7bA your exertions were won- have helped you over that river
derful, & deserved a better fate. you then would have obeyed your
8aA Lord Cornwallis move- orders, covered S. Carolina, you
ments in the Field do him infinite would have saved your army, and
credit ; his activity, Zeal, resources we should have saved America,
would do honour to any general ; HaA For these very reasons
but he does not seem to have my good Lord you should have
looked forward to probable con- gone to Camden, in obedience to
sequences, ever too fond of de- my orders not to expose Charles
tatchments. Town at that time open & to
9bA How could you expect it fulfil your own promises to Gen
my good Lord. Leslie, you were nearer to it than
10bA that small quantity of to Wilmington, safe & shorter,
provisions and forage would have 12bA for these very reasons you
carried you to the Santee L. should not have gone down the
Rawdon from Camden would banks of Cape Fear river
398 CLINTON-CORNWALL1S CONTROVERSY
former professions of Friendship : But, tho' Appear
ances are rather more favourable among them, I con
fess they are not equal to my expectations.13
a o continues »General Greene marched down as low as the mouth
of Deep-River, where he remained four days ago ;
He never came within our reach after the action, nor
nas a sno^ been since fired,14 except at bRamsay's-Mill
on Deep-River, where Colonel Malmedy, with about
20 of a gang of plunderers that are attached to him,
galloped in among the Sentries, and carried off three
Yagers.
1 cannot sufficiently commend the behaviour of
both Officers and Men under my Command.15 They
not only shewed the most persevering intrepidity in
action, but underwent with chearfulness such fatigues
& hardships as have seldom been experienced by a
British Army, and justly merit every mark of favour
and reward. The great assistance which I received
from Generals Leslie and O'Hara, & Lieu* Colonel
Tarleton, deserves my warmest acknowledgments, &
highest commendations.
I am now employed in disposing of the sick &
wounded, and in procuring supplies of all kinds, to
put the troops into a proper state to take the field.
I am, likewise, impatiently looking out for the ex
pected reinforcement from Europe, part of which
will be indispensibly necessary, to enable me either
to act offensively, or even to maintain myself in the
upper parts of the Country, where alone I can hope
to preserve the Troops, from the fatal Sickness, which
so nearly ruined the Army last Autumn.
CI am verY anxious to receive your Excellency's
commands,16 being as yet totally in the dark, as to
13bA have you, could you in lgabA ^ .g ^ realy
the force and state you were give very
them a fair tryal. can you doubt 16R in the first part of this
their zeal, look back to Febry 76. letter his lordsp implys that he is
and April 80. g°ing as soon as possle into the
14aAhow could he come nearer back of S. Carolina this letter
you put the deep river between you was read in the H of Lords
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 399
the intended operations of the Summer.17'18 I cannot
help expressing my wishes, that the Chesapeak may
become the Seat of aWar, even (if necessary) at the
expence of abandoning New-York ; Untill Virginia
is in a manner subdued, our hold of the Carolinas
must be difficult, if not precarious. The Rivers bof
Virginia are advantageous to an invading Army, But
North-Carolina is, of all the Provinces cin America,
the most difficult to attack, (unless material Assist
ance could be got from the Inhabitants, the contrary
of which, I have sufficiently experienced) on account
of its great extent, of the numberless Rivers and
Creeks, & the total want of interior navigation.*
In compliance with your Excellency's general
directions, I shall dispatch my Aid-de-camp, Captain
Brodrick, to England, with the particular accounts of
the Battle of Guildford, of the Winter's Campaign,
and the present State of the Province, Copies of
which, I shall have the honour of transmitting to
your Excellency with my next dispatch.6
I have the honour to bef with great respect, Sir,
Your most obedient & Most humble Servant
'CORNWALLIS.
1 7aA How can your Lordship they are actually at Charles Town
say you are totally in the dark & may be expected every hour
as to the intended opems. read my you march into Virginia &c &c
letter 6fch of Novr at least by &c without waiting to receive
that you will perceive that unless them.
I am reinfor'd & am sure of a 18bA and yet when he hears
covering Fleet I am determined they are arrived makes a desperate
against solid operation in Virginia move into Virginia without wait-
such as you are about to force. ing to receive them, and in the
so anxious that when you hear dark is resolved to remain.
7 OB: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 10 April 1781, ANSWER [9] p 85.
With Clintons Manuscript Notes.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated
Camp near Wilmington, April 10, 1781.
Same as No. 70 with variations shown in margins pp 395-399.
7<DF: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [84 Ap'ai] p 130.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin-
400 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
ton, received by his Majesty's ship Amphitrite, dated
Camp, near Wilmington, April 10, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 70 as shown in margins pp 395-399.
703: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 10 April 1781, REPLY [6] p 141.
With Clintons Manuscript Note.
Extract of aLetter from EarlCornwallis to SirHenry Clin
ton, dated Camp before Wilmington, icth April, 1 781 .
This extract from No. 70 is shown in margins pp 398-399.
707: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, Fr trans GERMAIN ^p 182.
Extrait d'une lettre du comte Cornwallis, a Sir
Henri Clinton, datee du camp devant Wilmington
le 10 avril 1781. (Recue le 22 avril.)
This extract from No. 70 is shown in margins pp 398-399.
7<DE: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 10 April 1781, Copy PA 157/255.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated Camp
near Wilmington i o April 1781. In Lord Cornwallis
a wo. 78P of the 1 8 April N° io.a
Same as No. 70 with variations shown in margins pp 395*399-
7OR: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 10 April 1781, Copy PA 140/131.
Endorsed Copy. Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis
to Sir Henry Clinton KB. Camp near Wilmington
April ioth 1781. received the 22d April. In Sir
HY Clinton's N° 124*
Same as No. 70 with variations shown in margins pp 395-399.
7OM: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, io April 1781, Extract PA 140/556.
Endorsed Extract from the Correspondence between
Sir Henry Clinton and Earl Cornwallis on the Sub
ject of Operations in the Chesapeak & an Expedition
against Philadelphia, (n) In Sir Henry Clinton's
Letter of the 1 3th July0 90
Begins Extract. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Camp near Wilmington ioth of April 1 78 1 .
Received the 2 2d of April.
This extract from No. 70 is shown in margins pp 398-399.
700: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, io April 1781, Extract HL NO Qob.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 401
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton dated Camp near Wilmington i oth
April 1781. N° 90b.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton dated Camp near Wilmington ioth
April 1781.
This is two parts of No. 70 as shown in margins pp 395-399.
71 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, n April 1781, ANSWER [90] p 87.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major General Phillips,
dated New-York, April n, 1781.
[Received by Earl Cornwallis, at Petersburg, May 24.]
Your letter of the 3d instant, by Captain Chads,
which I am this day favoured with, makes me appre
hensive lest you may have misconceived my intentions
with regard to the order in which I wished that the
different objects recommended to you in my instruc
tions should be attended to ; and that your having in
consequence proposed to commence with strengthen
ing the works at Portsmouth, may occasion some
delay of the operations desired to favour those of
Lord Cornwallis, whose situation after the action of
the 1 5th ult. might not only derive the greatest
advantage from, but indeed might possibly be so
critical as even to require a timely exertion of the
troops under your command1.
You will, therefore, have the goodness to forgive
me, if I request you to recollect, that at the time
those instructions were drawn up, General Arnold
was partly invested by a considerable body of militia,
and threatened with an attack from the French
armament from Rhode-island, and Fayette's corps
then on their march to Virginia, which naturally
pointed out the security of him, the troops under his
la while it was possible for observ'd that My principal object
Lord Cornwallis to act in those was ever to favour his operatns.
unhealthy Climates it will be
5*
402 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
orders, and the posts on Elizabeth-river, as the
principal object of your expedition] which words
were certainly intended to mean no more than
relieving them from their supposed danger, by either
forming a junction with General Arnold, or taking
such measures against the enemies opposed to him as
might most effectually enable you to throw into his
lines an immediate supply of provisions and men ; for
how could I imagine that the post at Portsmouth,
which General Arnold had but just informed me, in
his letter of the 2/th of February, he could defend
against the force of the country, and two thousand
French troops, until a reinforcement arrived from
hence, would require additional works for its security,
after you had joined him with so considerable a rein
forcement, or was acting against the rebel stations in
its neighbourhood ? And I could not but suppose
that you yourself comprehended what I intended to be
the first object of my instructions, when you tell me
in your letter, by Serjeant Coulter, that the proposed
consultation would go, " in the first instance^ to the
u security of this post, and in the next to the fulfilling
" the first object of your Excellency's instructions."2
Which, (excuse me for repeating it) has been invariably
in all my instructions to the General-officers sent to the
Chesapeak, operation in favour of Lord Cornwallis.
But, if you will have the goodness to read those I
gave you once more, I am sure you will perceive that
what I have said about strengthening the present
works on Elizabeth-river, and adding such others as
you shall think necessary, is placed subsequent in
order to most of the other objects recommended to
you, and they were of course designed to have been
taken into consideration after those had been accom
plished, and you were upon the point of returning to
me with part of your present force.
2a had Lord Cornwallis aluded to. He surely would not
seen these instructions a copy of have engaged in operations so
wch were with Col. Ball our before totally depending on a Fleet.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 403
al am always happy to receive your opinions respect- a B beffins
ing the different operations of the war in this country,
particularly those immediately connected with your
own station. I, therefore, of course, shall pay every
attention to what you say about the post at Ports
mouth, and feel myself greatly obliged to you for the
trouble you have taken to investigate its good and
bad properties. My ideas of a post on Elizabeth-
river have continued uniformly the same since I first
took a view of it, having always considered it merely
as a station to protect the King's ships, which might
occasionally sail from thence to cruize in the waters
of the Chesapeak, and command its entrance. I,
therefore, only wished to have there such a number
of troops as might be sufficient for its defence, and
which, being occasionally reinforced, as circumstances
should require and our abilities admit, might act
offensively in distressing and embarrassing the
measures of the enemy in its neighbourhood. — Tor, ^Jn™'**to
God forbid I should think of burying the elite of my
army in Nansemond and Princess Anne ! these ideas
I communicated to the General officers I sent on
that service ; and they each adopted such as appeared
to them best calculated to answer the intended
purpose. My own opinion indeed was that we should
possess a close work at "Mill Point, (which Fyers cBno* *'«'"*
fortified by my order in 1776, as he will remember,)
another at Norfolk, and da third somewhere on the
^opposite side of the river : but as I had been there «*notitalics
only for a very short time, I could not of course but
be influenced by the representations of the General
officers and Engineers on the spot, who had more
time, and better opportunity to examine all the
different positions on that river. General Leslie
therefore having informed me that he had, with the
unanimous suffrage of the sea and land officers on the
expedition, made choice of Portsmouth, (which pro
bably he did with a view of putting our friends of
Princess Anne, &c. under cover and protection, Ibut
404
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a B omits
Major
b B inserts
3 lines see p
405
IB ends
by your account, a small house, I fear, will be sufficient
for them all,) and his Engineer, Captain Sutherland,
having in consequence began a work there, which he
was of opinion could in a few days be in a state to
be perfectly secure with a small garrison ; I was in
duced to recommend to General Arnold the occupying
the same ground : and though I must do the justice
to that General officer to acknowledge that he gave
me, in his letter of the 23d of January, a very different
representation of the post at Portsmouth, from the
one given me by aMajor-general Leslie ; circumstances
became so critical at the time I received it, in conse
quence of the French preparations at Khode-Island,
and the numerous militia who were collecting in
Virginia and North Carolina, that I thought it an im
proper time to change the station, because good or
bad, such as it was, it must for the present be
defended. I accordingly thought it right to defer, to
some more proper occasion, the writing to General
Arnold on the subject ; and I was afterwards happy to
find by his letter to me of the 27th of February, that
his works there were in such forwardness6 ; and that
he was even preparing to send up James Eiver, an
expedition of five hundred men. All these circum
stances considered, I was led to suppose that the post
at Portsmouth, was now rendered an eligible one by
the manner in which it was fortified. However, as I
intimated before, it is by no means a position of my
choice, and if you and General Arnold have such good
reasons to condemn it, it may be right to return to our
original object, °a station to protect the King's ships,
which is capable of being maintained by a garrison of
about Jive or six hundred men ; and if Mill-Point will
answer these purposes without Norfolk, and the
corresponding station on the opposite side of the river,
I can have no objection ; but leave it to you to act as
you judge best for the King's service.4
I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 405
7 IB: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 11 April 1781, Extract PA 140/113.
Endorsed Extracts from Gen1 Sir H : Clintons Letters
to Majr Gen1 Phillips N° 3 In Sir Henry Clintons
N° 124 of 23d & 30th April & ist May 1781*
Begins Extracts of Letters from General Sir Henry
Clinton to Major General Phillips.
This extract from No. 71 is shown, in margins pp 403-404.
Page 404 line 2 2 insert the following words : —
that he could defend the Post against the Force of
the Country & 2000 French Troops until a Rein-
forcement arrived from hence.
72 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, OBSERVATIONS [80 Ay?x\y> 130.
Extract. — Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general
Phillips, dated New- York, April 13, 1781.
In addition to what I have said in those letters
(April 5) I scarce need mention, that I am persuaded
you will not delay to make such movements in favour
of Lord Cornwallis as you judge best, with the force
you have left after garrisoning the different works at
Portsmouth ; which after reading the report of your
engineer, 1 flatter myself will be perfectly secure with
six or eight hundred men. In that case you will be at
liberty to act with the remainder, being as good troops
as any in this country, in such operations as you shall
judge most conducive to assist those of his Lordship.
73 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, 13 April 1781, ANSWER [i 8]^> 85.
Duplicate. Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Earl Corn
wallis, dated aNew-York, April 13, 1781.
My Lord, As it appears, even from the Rebel
account of the action, that your Lordship has
gained a victory over Greene ; and it is probable he
may in consequence have repassed the Eoanoke, I
beg leave to submit to your Lordship, the propriety
of your coming to Chesapeak Bay in a frigate as
soon as you have finished your arrangements for the
security of the Carolinas, and you judge that affairs
406 CL1NTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
there are in such a train as no longer to require your
presence ; directing at the same time such troops to
follow you thither, as your Lordship is of opinion
can be best spared.
By Lieutenant-Colonel Brace's arrival I am made
acquainted that six British regiments are intended as
an immediate reinforcement to the army under my
command ; should therefore any of these corps stop
at Carolina your Lordship may probably direct them
either to replace such troops as follow you, or to pro
ceed immediately to the Chesapeak.
Agreeable to what I have already said to your
Lordship in my letters of the ist of June and 6th of
November, it is my wish that you should continue to
conduct operations as they advance northerly : for,
except as a visitor, I shall not probably move to
Chesapeak, unless Washington goes thither in great
force. The success which has hitherto attended your
Lordship excites the fullest assurance of its continu
ance ; and as it is my inclination to assist your
operations to the utmost extent of my power, I am
convinced, from your disinterestedness, that you will
not ask from me a larger proportion of troops than I
can possibly spare.
As this goes by an unarmed vessel to Chesapeak,
Major General Phillips will add what he thinks
necessary to it, and forward it to Cape Fear.
The Admiral has at last consented that the Medea
shall sail for Cape Fear, as soon as she is ready.
Perhaps your Lordship may take that opportunity of
returning in her ; and, if we can prevail upon the
Admiral, or Commanding Naval officer here, to spare
Captain Duncan to conduct the naval part of our
business in the Chesapeak, I think we shall have
gained a great point?
I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON.
73B: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 13 April 1781, Copy RI 22/95.
The same letter as No. 73.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 407
74 PHILLIPS TO CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [8 1 Ap'x]p 130.
Extract. — Major-general Phillips to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Portsmouth, in Virginia, April 15, 1781.
I am free to declare Portsmouth to be a bad post,
its locality not calculated for defence, the collateral
points necessary to be taken up so many, that alto
gether it would require so great a number of troops
as no general officer I imagine would venture to pro
pose to the Commander-in-chief to leave here for
mere defence A spot might be found, I appre
hend, for a post for five hundred men, should it be
necessary to have one in Elizabeth River.
75 PHILLIPS TO CLINTON, 16 April 1781, NARRATIVE \_6~\p 9.
" I cannot sufficiently express my extreme joy at
reading Washington's letter. It is such a description
of distress, as may serve to convince, that with a
tolerable reinforcement from Europe, to enable your
Excellency to determine on an offensive campaign,
the year 1781 may probably prove the glorious
period to your command in America, by putting an
end to the rebellion." — Letter from Major-general
Phillips to Sir H. Clinton, Portsmouth, Virginia,
April 1 6, 1781.
76 PHILLIPS TO CLINTON, 15/19 April 1781, Extracts PA 140/99.
OBSERVATIONS [81 Ap'x^p 130.
Endorsed Extracts from Major Gen1 Phillips Letters
to Sir H. Clinton. N° 2. In Sir Henry Clintons
N° 124 of 23d & 30th April & ist May 1781.* aNo.
Extracts from Major General Phillips's Letters. b s
Portsm0 in Virginia April 15. 1781
Finding the putting this Place in a proper State
of Defence rather beyond the Calculation in point of
Time, I made up that Deficiency by Numbers of
Men, which rendered the State of the several Redoubts
4o8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
and Lines so tolerably complete as to enable me
without any probable Risk to move with 2000 Troops
upon that Expedition first directed to be undertaken ;
and everything was ready for a Movement on the i Ith
Instant. Unfortunately the Winds blew directly
contrary, & very strong on that day & every one
after until yesterday, when it changed in a degree to
allow some Transports with Troops to go down to
Hampton Road — and I had ordered the Light
Infantry & Queen's Rangers to march from their
Cantonments to embark in the Boats prepared for
them at Norfolk, when a most violent Storm of Wind
and Rain obliged me to postpone moving the
Troops.
I must refer your Excellency to my former Letters,
particularly my last, for my Sentiments upon what
may be attempted against La Fayette, against that
Quarter in the Chesapeak, and the consequent
Operations leading to the opening the Campaign,
after the first Object of your Excellency's Instructions
& Orders shall be accomplished. But this must
depend upon a Reinforcement in force ; or all Enter-
prizes here will be merely desultory, which may in
a degree annoy the Enemy, but answer, I apprehend,
no great Object.
1 have the Honor to inclose You a Letter I have
written to Lord Cornwallis ; whom I believe to have
been victorious in his late action with General Green,
but still not in a State to make any great advantages
of his Victory. 1 conceive myself restricted from
pursuing any Movements over the Roanoke ; and
indeed with the present Force it would be not
possible for it to be done. But perhaps, with a
Reinforcement and Your Excellencys Permission &
Orders, a Junction might be made, at any Rate a
Cooperation, with Lord Cornwallis, which wrould
force Mr Green from the Power of giving any Inter
ruption to his Lordship settling the Situation of
Affairs in North Carolina —
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 409
Portsm0 Virginia i6th April 1781
I am clear that Lord Cornwallis pursued the
Enemy to the Ford with great Slaughter, for I
observe the Enemy industriously give an Account
only of their Continentals not their Militia ; there is
therefore Reason to believe the Victory complete.
But forgive me for thinking that he may have bought
it dear, and that his Lordship remained a little
crippled after the Action. The Move of these
Troops, as I hope, to Morrow, cannot fail of being
a most usefull Cooperation with that Army; and
should your Excellency have judged it necessary to
reinforce me, it may be in my Power from a Com
munication with Lord Cornwallis to join in the
dispersing Mr. Greens army.
I am confirmed in my Idea from reading the
intercepted Letter of General Washington, of what
I took the Liberty of mentioning to Your Excellency
respecting La Fayette ; and that he will never
venture to move Southward. And it leads me to
suppose that he remains at Baltimore waiting Events.
Should an Expedition proceed against him, he pos
sibly may retire to Washington ; in which Case
Maryland and the Susquehannah to Yorktown, &
from thence back to Frederick Town on the
Potowmack with that River, would in a degree be
in our Power. Should he on the Contrary remain
to protect Baltimore or Annapolis, he certainly may
be carried with his Troops. But the Attempt, Sir,
cannot be made with the Forces at present here ; for
it would be incompatible with the Situation of
Portsmouth to take from its Defence, for so distant
an Operation, more than 16 or 18,00 Men.
Forgive me, Sir, for once more observing that
without a Reinforcement to this Corp of Troops,
little can be done except plundering of Tobacco,
which is not an object of mine. With a Reinforce
ment I think a great deal may be done by the End
of May.
52
4io CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
In Your Letter, Sir, You are so good to do me
Justice in being persuaded I shall not delay the
Movements to be made in favor of Lord Cornwallis.
Had the Winds & Weather permitted, it would have
been done on the nth Instant. As it is, it must
depend upon a favorable Change of the Weather,
which I trust will happen to Morrow or the next
day at farthest.
I have in all my Letters taken the Liberty to
remark that I think this Post cannot be perfectly
Secure without a great Number of Troops. But
taking into Consideration the Sort of Enemy, tho'
numerous, in our Front, That a Movement I shall
make will probably occasion one from them, I am
of Opinion the Post will be secure with the Troops
I shall leave in it, which amount, including the
Post at the Great Bridge, and a Guard upon the
General Hospital at Norfolk, to 900 Men: and
there will be about 300 left sick in the General and
Regimental Hospitals. In the effective Numbers I
do not include the artillery, armed Artificers, nor
Sailors.
Joint Letter from M. G. Phillips & B. G. Arnold
dated i8th ApJ 1781
N° 6. From the Reasons stated, Namely the little
Likelyhood of a quick personal Interview with Lord
Cornwallis, we take the Liberty of submitting an
opinion to the Commander in Chief — That, pre
vious to the real opening of the Campaign (with
which we suppose Lord Cornwallis will be materially
connected, and on which a consultation with his
Lordship may be necessary) it may be possible to
effect several essential Purposes, by which the Rebels
may be much harrassed and distressed, and that such
Distresses must ultimately reach Mr Washington's
Army in the Jersies ; which cannot fail, we imagine,
of proving an advantageous Prelude to the Campaign.
N° 7. We are of opinion that was this Corps of
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 411
Troops more in Number by 1800 or 2000 Men, a Post
in force might be taken at Petersburg, from whence
Detachments might be made in such Strength as to
break up entirely Mr Greens Communication with
Virginia and might otherwise be able to operate upon
a proper Communication had with and a Plan settled
with Lord Cornwallis, as would probably have dis
persed Mr Greens Army. But Time is so far
advanced, as to render perhaps such an operation
depending upon a Reinforcement inconsistent with
the Time of, and the Views in, opening the Campaign ;
to which must be added the Difficulty there will
always be in any free and certain Communication by
Land with Lord Cornwallis.
N° 8. We now take the Liberty of giving an
opinion of what may be done in Chesapeak previous
to the Month of June, supposing all Cooperation over
with the Southern Army. And we profess to con
ceive that if the Marquis de la Fayette remains with
his Corps of 1500 Men at Baltimore an Attempt may
be made upon him, Baltimore and Annapolis, with
great Probability of Success. But it cannot be
undertaken we imagine without a Reinforcement of
effective 1600 or 2000 Men, and a Proportion of
heavy Artillery for constructing Batteries against the
works we understand to have been constructed at
Baltimore.
N° 9. Should the Marquis de la Fayette retire
upon the Approach of a Corps of Troops against him,
Maryland would be left defenceless and the Enemy's
Magazines in that Country extending to the Potow-
mack River, would in Course be destroyed, as would
also the Arms & Ammunition belonging to the
Militia, as well as Boats, Shipping & Small Craft in
the Rivers.
N° 10. We are of opinion these operations,
delineated for the Chesapeak, if undertaken about
the first of May, would terminate the latter End of
that Month. After which Period, it would be in the
412 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Power of Your Excellency to direct the future Opera-
as stops tion Of thig Corps of Troops,* either to make an
Attempt upon Philadelphia, and take Post in the
lower Counties of the Delaware; for which we
b s continue* apprehend this Force sufficient, bor to return to New
York and operate with your Excellency's main Army
for the Campaign.
N° 12. We have only one Point more to submit
to Your Excellency's Consideration. It is respecting
the Post of Portsmouth, which we conceive to be a
bad one — taken only in one View, that of the Number
of Troops, necessary to defend it. There are many
other Points which render the Post weak, which an
order has been given by Major General Phillips
to the commanding Engineer to delineate. We
imagine that to protect Princess Anne County, and
to have a Point for Troops to resort to, and for Expedi
tions in the Chesapeak to be sent from ; a Post for
Six hundred or one Thousand Men might be estab
lished elsewhere to more Advantage than this of
.s .top. Portsmouth.0
The Idea formed of Princess Anne does not answer
to the real Temper and Disposition of the Inhabitants.
They are scarcely Friends, and perhaps many of them
Enemies ; although Necessity from the Situation of
the King's Troops oblige the latter to remain quiet
— The former are not inclined to be active in our
favor.
is centimes dHampton Road onboard the Maria April i9h 1781
In my Way down to the Assembly of Transports
and Boats Yester Evening this Vessel which I am in
run on Ground, And while I was waiting for a
Swell of the Tide, an Express Boat arrived to me
with a Letter from Lord Cornwallis, which the
Amphitrite had brought.
I have read the Copy of the Dispatch to your
Excellency alluded to, and it is a plain Tale of many
Difficulties and Distresses, great Perseverance and
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 413
Resolution, and Honour. The Action of the 15th
was glorious ; but, as I feared, that Sort of Victory
which ruins an Army. I most sincerely hope the
Medea Frigate is already with Lord Cornwallis, or at
least will be soon. I imagine Your Excellency's
Letter will cause his Lordship (joined to the not
being able to move his Army immediately) to set out
for the Chesapeak. I shall be sincerely glad of it ;
as in that Case, your Excellency will have the Assist
ance of his Lordship's Council and Cooperation.
&The Face of Affairs seems changed. bl have nothing . .
o b J3 inserts <t
farther to add, than that I conceive Lord Cornwallis jgJJ**
will not have it in his Power to bring with him many
Troops. It will depend on Your Excellency, from his
Lordship's Letters, and from those of Brigadier General
Arnold and me, whether you shall think it proper to
have an operation in Force in Chesapeak — If Yes,
the Troops here are too few — if no, too many.0
The ^operation I had proposed against Williamsburg
shall take place to Morrow Morning. But I think it operations
my Duty to call a Council of War, circumstanced as
Lord Cornwallis is, to judge whether an attempt on
Petersburg may now be proper.6
766: PHILLIPS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [81 Ap'x] p 130.
Extract. — Major-general Phillips to Sir Henry Clin
ton, dated Hampton Eoad, on board the Maria,
April 19, 1781.
This extract from No. 76 is shown in margin p 413.
Parje 413 line n insert the following words: —
and the Carolinas, like all America, are lost in re
bellion. My letters of the I5th, i6th, and yester
day, will go now in the Amphitrite, for I stopped
the express boat last night.
Page 413 after line 18 insert the following words : —
I hope to hear from your Excellency directly, and
perhaps it may not be so well to trust such a serious
dispatch, as your next, Sir, will probably be, to an
unarmed vessel, but that a frigate will be sent.
4i4 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
76r: PHILLIPS to CLINTON, 19 April 1781, Extracts HL NO 56.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extracts from Major General Phillips's
Letters to Sir Henry Clinton. Transmitted to Ld
Geo: Germain In Sir H> Clintons of 23d & 3Oth
April and Ist May 1781 (2) R/ 23d June N° 56
The same extracts as No. 76.
763: PHILLIPS to CLINTON, 19 April 1781, Extracts HL NO 18.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Extracts from Major General Phillips's Let
ters to Sir Henry Clinton. In Sir H> Clinton's of
aNo.90E:.p 2^d & 30^ April & Ist May 1781.* (2) N° 18.
This is three parts of No. 76 as shown in margins pp 407-413.
77 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, LS PA 157/243.
ANSWER [44] p 85.
With Clinton's MS. Notes from ANSWER and TARLETON.
Endorsed N° 9. Wilmington 1 8th April 1781. Lord
Jsza60* Cornwallis (N° 9) R/ 4th June, (i Inclosure.a) Entd
Begins NO Q Wilmington 1 8th April 1781.
oBFs^m .M Lord? j marched from Guildford on the
morning of the i8th of March, and next day arrived
at Bell's Mill, where I gave the Troops two days rest,
themserts and procured da small supply of provisions. From
thence I proceeded slowly towards Cross Creek,
attending to the convenience of subsistence, & the
movement of our wounded, On my way I issued the
inclosed Proclamation, & took every other means in
my power to reconcile enemies, & to encourage our
friends to join us.
From all my information I intended to have halted at
Cross Creek, as a proper place to erefresh and refit the
Troops, and I was much disappointed on my arrival
there, to find it totally impossible : Provisions were
scarce, not four days forage within twenty miles, and
9 to us, the Navigation of fthe Cape Fear River to
Wilmington, impracticable ; for the distance by
lnerea water is upwards of gan hundred miles, the breadth
seldom above han hundred Yards, the banks high, and
CHEONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 415
the Inhabitants on each side generally hostile.
Under these Circumstances I was obliged to con
tinue my march to this place, in the neighbourhood
of which I arrived on the 7th Insfc.
I have been busy since my arrival in disposing of
our sick & wounded, and in procuring the necessary
Supplies, to put the troops in a proper state, to take
the field. I am in daily expectation of seeing the
reinforcement from 'Europe, and of receiving the
Commander in Chiefs directions for the further opera
tions of the Campaign.1*2
Captain Schutz died a few days after the action,
as we expected, but I am sorry to inform Your Lord
ship, that, notwithstanding the flattering appearances
& the Assurances of the Surgeons, Colonel Webster,
(whose loss is severely felt by me & the whole Army)
Captain Maynard of the Guards, bCaptain Wilmousky
and Ensign De Trott of the Regiment of Bose are
c BFV insert
3 lines, seep
Major Craig who took possession of this place don
the latter end of January, has conducted himself with in
great Zeal & Capacity, having with a very small force,
not only secured the Post from all insults, but made
himself respectable in this part of the Country, by
several successfull excursions.
I shall not trouble Your Lordship on the subject
of South Carolina, having directed Lord Rawdon who
commands on the Frontiers, and Lieu' Colonel
Balfour Commandant of Charles town, to take every
opportunity of communicating to Your Lordship, as
well as eto the Commander in Chief, the state of *? omits to
affairs in that Province ; as they are both Officers of
capacity & great merit, I trust that their conduct
will have given satisfaction.
laA Those directions are now his Lordship at Chs Town & had
laying at Charles Town in the been from the yth april. but Col.
hands of Col. Balfour who received Balfour did not send them tho
them the yth April. frequent and safe opportunities
2T they were laying ready for offered.
416 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
I have the honour* to beb with great respect, My
Lord, Your Lordship's Most obedient & Most humble
Servant. CORNWALLIS.
Eight Honorable Lord George Germain. &ca &ca &ca
776: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, ANSWER [44] _p 85.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Dispatch, No. 9, to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 18, 1781.
Same as No. 77 with variations shown in margins pp 414-416.
Page 415 line 19 insert the following words : —
the rest of the officers are recovering fast, and many
of the wounded soldiers have already joined their
regiments.
77F: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, TARLETON^? 322.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 9, to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 18, 1781.
Same as No. 77 with variations shown in margins pp 414-416.
Page 415 line 19 insert the same words as in No. 776
773: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, Copy PA 309/64.
In margin Wilmington i8th April 1781. Lord Corn
wallis (N° 9.) R/ 4th June.
Mem. at end Inclosure Copy of a Proclamation
issued in N° Carolina by Earl Cornwallis. i8th March
1781.
Same as No. 77 with variations shown in margins pp 414-416.
77V: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, Copy6 RI 19/75.
Endorsed Copy Earl Cornwallis to Lord G. Germain
Wilmington i8th April 1781.
Same as No. 77 with variations shown in margins pp 414-416.
Page 415 line 19 insert the same words as in No. 776
78 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, LS PA 157/251.
ANSWER [48] p 85, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed N° 10 Wilmington N. Carolina 1 8th April
1781 Lord Cornwallis (N° 10) R/ 4th June (i Inclo-
ft No. 70E : % . -r-^ . i *
£4.0 ^ sure)a Entd
?3&aTi ^° I0 b Wilmington i8th April 1781.
°My Lord, As Governor Martin returns to England
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 417
by this opportunity, I shall beg leave to refer your
Lordship to him for many particulars delating to this
Province : But I think it incumbent on me to be ex
plicit to your Lordship, as his Majesty's Minister, on
one or two capital points.
The principal reasons for undertaking the Winter's
Campaign were, the difficulty of a defensive War in
South Carolina, £ the hopes that our friends in North
Carolina, who were said to be very numerous, would
make good their promises of assembling £ taking an
Active part with us, in endeavouring to re-establish His
Majesty's Government. Our experience has shewn
that their numbers are not so great as had been re
presented and that their friendship bwas only passive ; b v reads i9
For we have received little assistance from them
since our arrival in the province, and altho' I gave the
strongest1 £ most2 publick assurances3 that after re
fitting £ depositing our Sick £ Wounded, I should4
return to the upper Country, not above two hundred
have been prevailed upon to follow us either as Pro
vincials or Militia. "This being the case, the immense °
extent of this Country cut with numberless dCreeks &
rivers and the total want of internal navigation, which creeka
renders it impossible for our Army to remain long in
the heart of the Country, Will make it very difficult
to reduce this province eto obedience by a direct
Attack upon it. flf therefore it should appear to be
the interest of Great Brittain to Maintain what she
already possesses, £ to push the War in the Southern
provinces, I5 take the liberty of giving it as my
opinion, that a serious attempt upon Virginia would
be the most solid plan,6 Because successful! operations
Id strongest underlined. 5d I to Plan underlined.
2d most public assurances 6b his Lordps advice influ-
underlined. enced the Cabinet to order solid
3d how comes it my good operation in this most hostile &
Lord that after such assurances sickly province at the worst of
you marched into Virginia. seasons ; & to reject my plan till
4d should to country under- July 81.
lined.
53
418 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
might not only be attended with important conse
quences there, but would tend to the security of
South Carolina, & ultimately to the submission of
North Carolina. The great reinforcements sent by
Virginia to General Greene, whilst General Arnold
was in the Chesapeak, are convincing proofs that
small expeditions do not frighten that powerfull
Province.
I have the honour4 to be b My Lord Your Lordship's
b oe end &c Most obedient and Most humble Servant
Cornwallis _. . , ._.-.. , , .—
c j in**** Right Honble 'CoRXWALLis.
Lord George Germain &c. &c. &c.
786: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, ANSWER [48] p 85.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 10, to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 1 8th, 1781.
Same as No. 78 with variations shown in margins pp 416-418.
78F: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, TARLETONJ? 324.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 10, to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 18, 1781.
Same as No. 78 with variations shoivn in margins pp 416-418.
783 : CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, Copy PA 309/67.
In margin Wilmington North Carolina 18 April
1781. Lord Cornwallis (N° 10.) E/ 4th June.
Mem. at end Inclosure Copy of a Letter from Earl
Cornwallis to Sir H. Clinton ioth April 1781.
Same as No. 78 with variations shown in margins pp 416-418.
78v: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 18 April 1781, Copy RI 19 '74.
Same as No. 78 with variations shown in margins pp 416-418.
79 BALFOUR TO CLINTON, 20 April 1781, LS RI 19/70.
OBSERVATIONS [90 Ap'x\ p 131, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Duplicate. aCharles Town, April 2Oth, 1781.
CB inserts ^^9 I have the honor to acquaint Your Excel
lency, that by 'Letters from Lord Rawdon of the i2th,
1 3th, and i5th Instant, there is the fullest informa
tion, that General Greene, with his Army is advancing
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 419
into this Province, & that his Light Troops have
actually passed the Pedee : the object of this Move
ment there is every reason to believe is Camden,
which, at present, is but weak, Lord Eawdon having
detached Lieutenant-Colonel Watson, with two Batta
lions from that Post ; so that in the end it may be
expedient, for combining our Force, to relinquish
every thing on the other side Santee, a measure,
however, which Your Excellency may be assured, will
not be taken but in case of the utmost necessity.
aAs this movement of Greene's may considerably
change Lord Cornwallis's views, (who is now at ton
Wilmington) I have judged it fit to lay before Your
Excellencyb this Intelligence, which is likewise for- bB*n*er**
warded to Lord Cornwallis by an Express Boat.1'2*3 p°ssibl
I have the honor0 to bed, Sir, Your Excellency's most
obedient & humble servant, N. BALFOUR.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton K.B. &c &c £c
la your Lordship must have not raised, and that that place
been determined indeed on your was in great danger & if he did
march to Virginia if this did not how could his Lordp consistent
induce you to return to Charles with my positive orders to the
Town. contrary go into Virginia at the
2b Surely this intelligence risk of Charles Town,
should have stopt his Lordship's 3d Lord C. had this infom
march into Virginia particularly before he marched for Virginia
as C. Balfour must have told his tis pity C. Bal. did not send my
Lordship as he did Lord Rawdon, dispatches &c for Lord Cornwallis
that the old works of Charles at the same time,
town were thrown down, & others
796: BALFOUR to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [90 Ap'x\p I3I>
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to Sir
Henry Clinton, received by the Speedy packet, which
called at Cape Fear, dated Charles-Town, April 20,
1781.
tiame as No. 79 with variations shown in margins pp 418-419.
79F: BALFOUR to CLINTON, 20 April 1781, Copy PA 140/251.
One of several letters under this endorsement Copies
and Extracts of Letters from Lieu1 Colonel Balfour to
a No. 94;?
474
420 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
H. E. Sir H. Clinton Received 2Oth May In Sir Henry
Clintons N° 127.*
Same as No. 79 with variations shoivn in margins pp 418-419.
a M begins
b ON begin
Copy
c BFSVER
begin
d V reads
dispatched
80 CORNWALLIS TO GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, LS PA 157/267.
ANSWER [50] p 85, OBSERVATIONS [92 Ap'x^ p 131, REPLY [66] p 170-
With Clinton's MS. Notes from ANSWER, OBSERVATIONS, REPLY,
TARLETON and GERMAIN.
Endorsed N° n. Wilmington No. Carolina 23d April,
1781. Lord Cornwallis (N° n) E/ 4th June. Entd
aN° ii b Wilmington 23 April lySi.1
°My Lord, I yesterday received an express, by a
small Vessel2 from Charlestown, informing me, that
a Frigate was there,3*4 but not then able to get
over the bar, with Dispatches from Sir Henry Clinton,
Notifying to me, that Major General Phillips, had5
been0'7 ddetached into the Chesapeak, with a consider
able force, with8 instructions to co-operate with this
Army9, & to10 put himself under my orders. This
Express likewise brought me11 ethe disagreeable12
accounts,13*14 that the upper posts of South Carolina,
1R read in the house of Lords 10dA to to orders underlined.
2fO this Boat certainly HbQ me to accounts under-
brought his lordship the iritelli- lined.
12bA disagreeable accounts un
derlined.
13bA surely this acct informed
him also that the old works of
Charles Town were down.
14bO this is the express boat
mentioned before, why did it not
carry my dispatches to his Lordp
delivered as he owns to Col.
Balfour the 7th he would have
found by these dispatches that so
far from telling his Lordship that
P. was under his orders, they
would have told him that was no
gence on the other side, how
could he therefore after receiving
such intelligence go into Virginia !
as "the best mode of employing
his army."
3bA & had been there since
the yth April.
4T those dispatches had been
there from the yth april.
5aQ had underlined.
6aQ No my good Lord waiting
the event of a naval action to be
detatched.
7cQ waiting (the event of a
sea action) to be detatched.
8dA with to ai my underlined.
9dA read these instructions
page 6 1.
longer than i oth May & that after
that he was positively ordered to
begin operation to the northward.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 421
were in the most imminent danger from an alarming
Spirit of Revolt among many of the people, and by a
movement of Gen1 Greene's Armya15
Although the expresses bl sent from Cross Creek,
• c T i i^ J £ ,\ •, T J insert that
to inform Lord Rawdon of the necessity 1 was under yf£i™serts
of coming to this place, and to warn him of the
possibility of such an attempt of the Enemy, had all
miscarried, Yet his Lordship was lucky enough to
be apprized of cGeneral Greene's Approach, at least cs omits
six days before he dcould possibly reach Camden, IBMOUT
and I am therefore still induced to hope from my SKy could
opinion of His Lordship's Abilities, & the precautions
taken by him, & Lieu'Colonel. Balfour, that we shall not
be so unfortunate, as to lose any considerable Corps.16
The distance from hence to Camden, the want of
forage and subsistence, on the greatest part of the
Road, and the difficulty eof passing the Pedee, when
opposed by an Enemy, render it utterly impossible
for me to give immediate assistance, And I apprehend
a possibility of the utmost hazard to this little Corps,
without the chance of a benefit, in the attempt; For
if we are so unlucky, as to suffer a severe blow in
South Carolina, the spirit of Eevolt in that Province,
would become very general, and the numerous Rebels
in this Province, be encouraged to be more than
ever active & violent; This might enable General
Greene to hem me in among the great Rivers, & by
15aO and therefore you get out Idea of employing the troops to
of the scrape as soon as you can. better advantage there induced
16bQ better gone yourself my you to go, and to tell the Minister
good Lord in obedience to my that operation in the most inimi-
orders and your own promises. cal and unhealthy province at the
you had not half the distance to worst of seasons and without a
go. — but it looked too much like covering fleet was the best way of
retreat, and Ross told you, you employing those troops, and be-
must go into Virginia (tho you cause your Lordp offered terms to
had failed this time) for that on Govt of responsibility which it
your arrival there he Ross hoped suited them to accept, they were
S H Clinton out of humour that weak and wicked enough to reject
Arbuthnot was not recalled would S H Clinton's plan which they
resign the command to your Lord- had approved till May & did again
ship, this my good Lord, not the approve in Sepr alas too late ! 1
422 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
cutting off our subsistence, render our Arms useless.
And to remain here for Transports to carry us off,
would be a work of time,17 would lose our
Cavalry, & be otherways as ruinous and disgracefull
to Britain, as most events could be. I have there-
to f°re> under so many embarrassing circumstances,* (but
looking upon Charlestown as safe from any imme-
diate Attackb from the Rebels18'19'20 21) resolved to take
advantage of General Greene's having left the back
part of Virginia open, and march immediately into that
province, to attempt a junction with General Phillips
I have more readily decided upon this measure
because if General Greene fails in the object of his
March, his retreat will relieve South Carolina ; And
my f°rce being very Insufficient for offensive operations
in this province may be employed usefully in Virginia,
in conjunction with the Corps under the Command
of General Phillips.
&c I have the hononrd to be6 with great respect My Lord
Your Lordship's Most obedient and Most humble Ser-
Vant fCORNWALLIS.
end &c
ignt Honorable Lord George Germain £ca &ca &ca
CornwaWs 17cQ You are two days march 20aQ read Tarltons History &
from Waggamaw Gallies & boats Lord Rawdoiis letter May 24.
are there to pass you over & a page 91.
corps at George Town to receive 21G qui dit Lord Rawdon et
you Le colonel Balfour au sujet de
18bA if Col. Balfour did his Charles Town, ne dissent ils pas
duty he informed you it was not quelle est ouvert et Exposee
safe — read Lord Rawd letter page [what is said by Lord Raiudon
19bQ If Balfour did his duty and colonel Balfour on the sub-
he told your Lordship it was in ject of Charles-town, do they not
danger. say that it is open and exposed]
SOB: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, ANSWER [50]^ 85.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. 11, to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 23d, 1781.
Same as No. 80 with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
SOF: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, OBSERVATIONS [92 Ap'x~\p 131.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 423
Copy. — Earl Cornwallis to Lord George Germain,
dated Wilmington, April 23, 1781.
Same as No. 80 with variations shoivn in margins pp 420-422.
£os: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, REPLY [66] p 170.
With Clintons Manuscript Note.
Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, North Carolina,
23d April, 1781.
Same as No. So with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
8ov: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, TARLETON^ 325.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dispatch, No. n, to Lord
George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 23d, 1781.
Same as No. 80 with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
8oE: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, Fr trans GERMAIN p 80.
With Clintons Manuscript Note.
Copie d'une lettre du comte Cornwallis, au lord
George Germain, datee de Wilmington dans la
Caroline Septentrionale le 23 avril 1781.
Same as No. 80 with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
£OR: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, Copy PA 309/71.
In margin Wilmington North Carolina 23d April 1781.
Lord Cornwallis (N° 1 1 .) R/ 4th June.
Same as No. 80 with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
SOM: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, Copy PA 140/263.
Endorsed Copy of a Dispatch N° 1 1 . From Earl
Cornwallis to Lord George Germain dated 23d April
1781. In Sir Henry Clintons N° 128 aN° i
as No. 80 with variations shoivn in margins pp 420-422.
£00; CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, Copy RI 19/77.
Endorsed Copy Earl Cornwallis to Lord G. Germain
Wilmington 23d April 1781.
Same as No. 80 with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
8oN: CORNWALLIS to GERMAIN, 23 April 1781, Copy HL NO 8.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Lord George Germain, dated Wilmington North
424
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Carolina 23rd April 1781. E/ 4th June. The In-
closure referred to in this Letter is amongst those
papers laid before the House 18 Feb? N° 57. N° 8.
Same as No. So with variations shown in margins pp 420-422.
a SVETC
begin Copy
b BF begin
c V reads
movements
d V rea-ls
resolutioa
e V reads
them
f BSVEread
nor
g V reads
direction
h E reads
renders
i Bi? new ^
8i CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 23 April 1781, ANSWER [20]^ 85.
REPLY [69] p 170, with Clinton's Manuscript Notes from ANSWER,
REPLY and GERMAIN.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, adated Wil
mington, April 23, 1 78 11.
bSir,2 I have the honour to inclose to you a dupli
cate of my letter of the loth, sent by the Amphi trite,
and copies of all my letters to the Secretary of State ;
as they contain the most exact account of every
transaction of the campaign, of the present state of
things in this district, of my great apprehensions
from the c movement of General Greene towards
Camden, and my Resolutions in consequence of it, I
have nothing to add to eit for your Excellency's satis
faction. Neither my cavalry for infantry are in readi
ness to move ; the former are in want of every thing,
the latter of every necessary but shoes, of which we
have received an ample supply ; I must however
begin my march to-morrow. It is very disagreeable
to me to decide upon measures so very important,
and of such consequence to the general conduct of
the war, without an opportunity of procuring your
Excellency's Directions or approbation ; but the delay
and difficulty of conveying letters, and the impossi
bility of waiting for answers, hrender it indispensibly
necessary.3 JMy present undertaking sits heavy on
1R read in the House of Lords. Genl Phillips & to me.
3G Le Ministre qui Envoyoit
les lettres pour etre lis etoit
milord Stormount, et un certain
Monr Knox etoit son Depaty. on
a produit les deux lettres de
Lord Cornwallis au Gen. Phillips
et au Gen. Clinton mais on a pas
juge apropos de Faire Lire le
lettre de Lord Cornwallis a Milord
G. Germain on aura vu que L.
2aA This letter is undoubtedly
misplac'd in His Lordships letter
to Lord G Germain of this date
page 92 My observations informs
L G that his Lordship had the
day before received an express
from C Town informing him that
my orders were arrived & then
laying at C Town & coming to
him in his letters of the 24th to
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 425
my mind; I have experienced the Mistresses and
dangers of marching some bhundreds of miles, in a
country chiefly hostile, without one active or useful
friend ; without intelligence, and without communi
cation with any part of the country. The situation
in which I leave South Carolina adds much to my
anxiety ; yet I am under the necessity of adopting
this hazardous enterprise hastily, and with the
appearance of precipitation, as I find there is no
prospect of speedy reinforcement from Europe, and
that the return of cGeneral Greene to North Carolina,
either with or without success, would put a junction
with General Phillips out of my power. d
I have the honour6 to be,f &c. CORNWALLIS.
Cornwallis y fait mention que it was not judged Jilting to cause eVfi em^&
les depeches du G. Clinton sont the letter of Lord Cornwallis to f s«ufe with
a Charles Town et qu'il les Lord Germain to be read; it
attendoit a chaque Instant ou would have been seen that Lord Excellency's
dans la suitte on verra plusiers Cornwallis there made mention of
neglicences de cette Espece, ou the dispatches of Genl. Clinton Most
de milord Stormont ou de son being at Charles town and that servt, °
Deputy Knox, il est a esperer que he was expecting them every pigBed1,.
toute cela netoit pas intentione. moment or immediately : several
[The minister who sent the letters mistakes of the same kind either
to be read was Lord Stormont, his by Lord Stormont or his deputy
deputy being a certain Mr. Knox. Knox will be observed, it is to be
The two letters of Lord Corn- hoped that all this was not
wallis to Genl. Phillips and to intentional.]
Genl. Clinton were produced but
SIB : CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 24 April 1781, REPLY [69] p 170.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Wilmington, 24th April, 1781.
Same as No. 81 with variations shown in margins pp 424-425.
8 IF : CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, Fr trans GERMAIN^) 117.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copie d'une lettre du comte Cornwallis, a Sir Henri
Clinton, datee de Wilmington le 24 avril 1781.
Same as No. 81 with variations shown in margins pp 424-425.
8is: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 23 April 1781, Copy PA 140/267.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
54
426 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Sir H. Clinton K.B. Wilmington 23d April 1781.
recd 22d May ^ the Speedy Packet. 59 In Sir Henry
Clintons of the 22d May N° 1 28a N° 2.
Same as No. 81 with variations shown in margins pp 424-425.
8iv: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON", 23 April 1781, Copy RI 19/82.
Same as No. 81 with variations shown in margins pp 424-425.
8 IE: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, Copy LANSDOWNE 6 8/1 8.
Same as No. 81 with variations shown in margins pp 424-425.
8iR : CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 23 April 1781, Copy HL No 58.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton dated Wilmington 23d April 1781.
Transmitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir H^ Clinton's
of 22 May 1781 (2) R/ 23d June. N° 58
Same as No. 81 with variations shown in margins pp 424-425.
82 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 24 April 1781, ANSWER [5 5] _p 86.
ANSWER [55]^ 8 6, OBSERVATIONS [94 Ap'x] p 131, REPLY [71] p 1 70.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note from REPLY.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated
aEHM%£» .Wilmington, ^^ ^ ^gj 1
bSir, I have reflected very seriously on the subject
of my attempt to march into Virginia, and have in
consequence written a letter to Major-general
Phillips, of which I have the honour to enclose a copy
inexpedient to ^Q^ Excellency. el have, likewise, directed
Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to send transports and
provisions to this dport, in case I should find the
<Sgned) junction with Major-general Phillips inexpedient or
impracticable, and that I should have the mortifica-
tion of seeing that there is no other method of con-
veying his Majesty's troops to South-Carolina, with-
Eespect.sir, ou^. feXpOSing them to the most evident danger of
being lost.'
and I have the honour11 to be,1 &c. ^OENWALLIS;
!R read in H Lords.
Signed —.<>**. —
826: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [94 Ap'af] p 131.
Copy.— From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 427
dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781.
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426.
82F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 24 April 1781, REPLY [71]^? 170.
With Clintons Manuscript Note.
Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton, dated Wilmington, 24th April, 1781.
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426.
828: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 24 April 1781, TARLETON^) 327.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. dated
Wilmington, April 24, 1781.
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426.
82 v: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, Fr trans GERMAIN p 119.
Copie d'une lettre du comte Cornwallis, a Sir Henri
Clinton, datee de Wilmington le 24 avril 1781.
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426.
82E: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 24 April 1781, Copy PA 140/271.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
SirH: Clinton KB. Wilmington 24th April 1781.
recd 22d May by the Speedy Packet. In Sir Henry
Clintons of the 22d May N° 128* N° 3. 57.
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426.
82E: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 24 April 1781, Copyb RI 19/83. b encloses
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426. 439 3M:^
82M: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 24 April 1781, Copy HL No 59.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton dated Wilmington 24th April
1 781 Transmitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir Henry
Clinton's of 22d May 1781 (3) R/ 23d June N° 59.
Same as No. 82 with variations shown in margin p 426.
83 CORNWALLIS TO PHILLIPS, 24 April 1781, LS PA 157/275.
ANSWER [56] _p 86, OBSERVATIONS [95 Ap'ac] p 131, REPLY [63] p
170, with Clinton's MS. Notes from each, and also from GERMAIN. .. 363
Endorsed In Lord Cornwallis's of the 24h Aprila bR5g '.ns
b Wilmington 2 4th April I78I1. 0Mo^n
1R This letter was laid before the seqly that enquiry begins with L. C. N be9ins
House of Lords, first inthelistcon- reasons for moving into Virginia. Duplicate
428 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVERSY
J«J2»SVB aDear Phillips, My situation here is very distress
ing, Greene took the advantage of my being obliged
to come to this place, and has Marched to South
Carolina. My expresses to Lord Rawdon on my leav
ing Cross-Creek, warning him of the possibility of
such a Movement, have all failed, Mountaineers &
Militia have poured into the back part of that pro
vince, and I much fear that Lord Rawdon's posts will
be so distant from each other and his Troops so
scattered as to bput him °indthe greatest danger of being
beat in detail, and ethe worst of consequences may
d£ateltsthe naPPen to most of the Troops out of Charlestown ;2
fBy a direct Move towards Camden I cannot get time
enough to relieve Lord Rawdon,3 and should he have
fallen, My Army would be exposed to the utmost
danger, from the great rivers I should have to pass,
the exhausted state of the Country, the numerous
Militia, the almost universal spirit of revolt which
prevails in South Carolina and the strength of
Greene's Army, whose Continentals alone are at least
as numerous as I am, And I could be of no use on
my arrival at Charlestown, there being nothing gat
aTprSeentd Present to apprehend for that post.4 I shall therefore
™SVJ*ON hMarch immediately up the Country *by Duplin Court
mediately house, pointing towards Hillsborough, in hopes to
withdraw Greene, if that should not succeed, I should
ke much tempted to ktry *to form a junction with you.
mr^e5 Attempt is exceedingly hazardous, and many
unforeseen Difficulties may render it totally impracti
cable,6 so that you must not take any steps that may
2bQ he might have added to Town that place would be, but was
Chs Town also. it not C. Balfour's duty to give
3bA is that so sure read LordRaw- this information to L. Cornwallis ?
dons letter to Lord Corn wallis page. 4G vous oubliez milord quo
does he not say that Col. Balfour vous 1'avez presq demantele
had informed him that not expect- \_you forget, my lord, that you
ing tnat L. Cornwallis after Guild- have almost dismantled it]
ford would have exposed C . Town he 5aA The to impracticable under-
had thrown down all the old works lined.
of that place and if L. Rawdon did 6bQ The to impracticable un-
not quit Campden. & garrison C. derlined.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 429
expose your Army to the danger of being ruined.7*8 I
shall March to the lowest ford of the Roanoke, which
I am informed is about 20 Miles above Taylor's
Ferry ; Send every possible intelligence to me by the
Cypher I inclose, and make every Movement in your
power to facilitate our Meeting which must be some
where near Petersburgh, with safety to your aArmy.
bl mention the lowest ford because in a hostile
Country Ferrys cannot be depended upon, But if I
should decide cupon the measure of endeavouring to ° ^vo read
come to you, I shall dendeavour to surprize the boats
at some of the ferries from Halifax upwards.8
I am fdear Phillips Most faithfully yrs fBT
Majr Gen1 Phillips. gCoRNWALLis.h
7aQ and yet you think tis the the Justice to say this hint to
safest and best way of employing Phillips was prudent ; but if Cornwailis
the Troops ! Green had beaten L. Rawdon and am Y(
8bQ and yet he says it was march'd after L. Cornwailis, and most
the best & most advantageous beat him, after joining La Fay-
way of employing the troops. ette Phillips would have become
but I must do his Lordp an easy prey.
h K oids
836: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, 24 April 1 78 1, ANSWER [56] p 86.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Letter to Major-general
Phillips, dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781.
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 428-429.
83F: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, OBSERVATIONS [95 Ap'x\p 131.
With Clintons Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Earl Cornwailis to Major-general Phil
lips, dated April 24, 1781.
Same as No. 83 with variations shoivn in margins pp 428-429.
838: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, 24 April 1781, REPLY [63] p 170.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant-General Earl Corn
wailis to Major-General Phillips, dated Wilmington,
24th April, 1781.
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 428-429.
83V : CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, 24 April 1781, TARLETON^ 328.
Copy of Earl Cornwallis's letter to Major-general Phil-
430 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
lips, dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781.
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 428-429.
83E: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, Fr trans GERMAIN jp 114.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copie d'une lettre du lieutenant-general comte de
Cornwallis au major-general Philips, da tee de Wil
mington le 24 avril 1781.
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 428-429.
8311: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, Copya LANSDOWNE 68/17.
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 427-429.
b inNo.82K: 83M: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, 24 April 1781, Copyb HI 19/84.
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 427-429.
830: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, 24 April 1781, Copy HL NO 57.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lieut General Earl
Cornwallis to Major General Phillips dated Wilming
ton 24th April 1 781 Transmitted to Ld Geo : Germain
In Sir H7 Clinton's of 18 May 1781 (i.) R/ 23d
June N° 57
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 427-429.
83 N: CORNWALLIS to PHILLIPS, 24 April 1781, Copy PA 140/223.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant General
Earl Cornwallis to Major General Phillips dated Wil
mington April 24th 1781. In Sir Henry Clinton's
cseeii. 371 J^o 126° N° I
Same as No. 83 with variations shown in margins pp 427-429.
84 CLINTON, conversations with PHILLIPS, ANSWER [ioo]_p 87.
NARRATIVE [96] p 57, ANSWER [100] p 87 and [175] _p 90, CORRE
SPONDENCE [19] p 134, REPLY [78] p 171, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Substance of several Conversations had with Major
general Phillips, on the Subject of Operations in the
Chesapeak, before his Embarkation on his Expedition
thither.
[Received by Earl Cornwallis at Petersburg, May 24.]
aUntil I know Lord Cornwallis's success to the
southward, and what force can be spared from the
southern district for further Operations, and until the
a M reads
the
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 431
reinforcements expected to athis army arrive ; such
troops as are in bthe Chesapeak maybe employed, first bKowuisthe
in assisting his Lordship's operations, and then in either
establishing a permanent post near the entrance of
that bay, (if the naval commander does not approve
of the one in Elizabeth River,) where large ships as
well as small may lie in security during any temporary
superiority of the enemy's fleet;1 °or if such a post cMomi<sor
cannot be found, in employing what remains of the
season in carrying on desultory expeditions against
such towns, stations, magazines, &c. as the enemy
may have there ; — to convince those people more by
what we can do, than what we really do, that they
are in our power ; and finally, in pursuing the same
plan (supporting friends,) in a more northerly and
healthy climate.
d2With regard to a station for the protection of the
King's ships, I know of no place so proper as York
Town, if it could be taken possession of,6 fortified, and
garrisoned with3 fone thousand men ; — as, by having
one thousand5 more at a post somewhere in Elizabeth
River, York and James Rivers would be ours, and our
cruizers might command the waters of the Chesapeak.
Troops might likewise be spared from these posts to
carry on expeditions during the summer months, when
probably nothing can be risked in that climate but
water movements.4 hBut5 if the Heights of York and hBV6*t'n
laA my opinions for a Naval one that was not sunk.
Station for Large Ships clearly 2aA this opn originated in that
ever were for Hampton Road, the of L. Cornwallis.
chanel to which is narrow & a ShiklC printed four, altered to
good close work or two on old one.
point Comfort with another at 4aQ and again as marked be-
Willouby or Sewells point would low. If therefore Lord Cornwallis
I knew protect that road, it com- did not think York and Glouces-
manded also the principal river, & ter answered this description he
was near the entrance of the bay. should not have preferred them to
I never thought York & Glou- old point Comfort, at least he
cester would protect any ships tho should after he got there have
they had been favorably repre- given his opinion of them as he
sented to me & tis clear I was promised, from all accounts till
right for the Enemy burned every the day preceeding his capitula-
432
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a BV insert
the
b V italics
those ona Gloucester side cannot be so well and so
soon fortified6 as to render that post bhors d'insult.
horad insult , „ r ...
before the enemy can move a lorce, &c. against it, it
may not be adviseable to attempt it :7 in that case,
something may possibly be done at Old Point Comfort
to cover large ships lying in Hampton Road, (which
toBwintw ^S reckoned a good one, cand not so liable to injury from
gales at N.E. as that of York, particularly in winter.8)
If9 neither10 can be secured, we must content ourselves
with keeping the Chesapeak, with frigates and other
d M inserts a armed vessels,11 which will always findd security, against
a superior naval force, in Elizabeth River.612 As our
operations in proper season may re-commence in the
Upper James, perhaps a station might be found at the
entrance of the narrows of that river that may be of
use in future day, and held with a small force. James
town seems a proper spot for such a station ; as does
the place where the narrows and windings begin/13
tion, I thought the ground well attempt to take one but hold
e BV end
f F8EO end
chosen, plan good and the works
in tolerable compleat order.
5aQ But to attempt it under
lined.
6fiklmnpqrsN does not this let
ter clearly prove that if a secure
post could not be found, he was at
liberty to reject any ; but I am
free to own, so certain was I of a
covering fleet that if his Lordship
had told me the post was bad I
would still have directed him to
take the best he could, knowing
that without a place of arms to
cover frigates, all was lost the
instant the Enemy obtained even
a temporary Naval superiority in
that bay.
7bN this order L. Cornwallis
owns he considers as affecting him ;
in the face of it, if he had thought
ill of Y. & G. should he not have
informed me of it.
8aC Here again if no secure
post can be found we must not
Elisabeth river with frigates and a
small post at Mill point.
9dA If to vessels underlined.
lOaQ If neither underlined.
HbA Lord Cornwallis affects
to say that I never hinted at a
place of arms to cover large ships
till it was proposed by the Ad
miral July nth 8 1 . does not this
letter prove I had such intention &
that I preferred old Pt Comfort but
it says also if none can be found
secure and hors d'insult we must
hold only one to cover frigates :
this letter L. Cornwallis tells us
he reed on his arrival, it certainly
authorised him to reject any but
such as was safe ; if what he took
in preference to the one I ordered
was not safe he should have said
so ; but he says the contrary read
his letter 22d Augst page 174.
12R in my Narrative.
13cA tis here repeated in an
opinion to Gen. Phillips.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 433
At a proper time of the year operations must still
go northward — either by a direct movement — station
ing your supplies in the navigable rivers which lie
favourable for it — in which you are, however, exposed
to a temporary naval superiority of the enemy — or by
proceeding up the Chesapeak, if a force equal to the
attempt can be collected; (for when ait can, Ib should
propose to take a station, threatening all the WOIJ
provinces bordering on Chesapeak with a desultory
war ;) prevent those provinces from being succoured ;
— by menacing communications ; and availing our
selves of a supposed numerous band of friends, who
otherwise may be forced to arm against us. Had we
a force sufficient for two movements, that would be
best ; — four thousand men to proceed in transports
up to Baltimore, taking a station within a certain
distance of the Susquehannah, and having vessels
always ready for a rapid move with part, or even the
whole, to a corresponding station in the Eastern
Neck ; while a corps of ten thousand men, or more,
(according to the force that can be brought against
you,) occupies the Eastern Neck, and can, in its turn,
succour the western corps. Whether the eastern
corps acts alone, or in co-operation, it must be
in very great force for reasons obvious. I do not
know enough of this Neck to say what force, or
whether any, can be placed in security. The most
advanced station would certainly be the best, parti
cularly at first, to enable our friends, who, we are
told, are at Lancaster, Little York-town, and Ches
ter, to join us. — Iron Hill may perhaps be it ; and
as marshy creeks run up from Delaware and Chesa
peak, the heads of which are not far asunder, many
good posts may be found for corps of different
strength ; — for while we command those bays, there
can be no danger of operation against our flanks
and rear ; and if the enemy should be superior in
°one, he cannot be so in dboth : — we should therefore
have always a communication open. This corps
55
434 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
should be very strong indeed, — or there should be
one acting in favour of it in Jersey. The preference
must be given to that plan, against which Washing
ton can bring the least force. He undoubtedly can
bring a greater force into Jersey than any where, as
the New-England troops amay be prevailed on to go
there, — and they cannot so easily be drawn into the
Eastern Neck, or even over the Delaware. , Besides,
if Washington moves into Jersey, his bmeal and flour
have both but a short portage ; but once deprived of
the eastern counties, his cattle in that case coming
chiefly from New England, will increase his diffi
culty of subsistence ; for as we may, under those
circumstances, attempt to occupy King's Ferry, he
returned* will be "reduced to the Detour. I therefore should
prefer a single corps in the Eastern Neck, sufficient,
however, for the purpose. As the French have
added considerably to Washington's force, I do not
think an army less than Sir William Howe had
could be sufficient — fifteen thousand men. But
where are they to be found? My whole force, rank
and file, fit for duty, is nearly twenty-four thousand.
It is presumed Lord Cornwallis will be content with
six thousand for the southward ; two thousand we
suppose in the Chesapeak — twelve thousand are re
quired for New York ; — there remains only four
thousand for that operation. I did expect ten thou
sand men as an augmentation to my present army. —
Had they come, this project might have taken place ;
but I am now told, I am to expect only four thou
sand — which will not be sufficient. — However, once
convinced that the French will not send dreinforce-
ment, and that we shall be permanently superior at
sea, and have an active co-operating naval com
mander, — I should be tempted to try : — but until all
this combines, I dare not : — and if it is delayed too
long, our friends in Pennsylvania may be forced
eM runs on £rom ^ Qr cajolg^e
If we could hold the Chesapeak by the posts on
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 435
Elizabeth and York rivers, Oxford, and Port Penn,
and the two Eastern on the sea-costs, and threaten
our enemies of Virginia and Maryland, and protect
our friends of all these countries, I think we should
in that case leave the French little to induce them to
support the war.
26th April. These however I give you merely
as my opinions at the time we talked "this on sub-
ject ; and they 'will influence you, of course, no
further, than as they correspond with your own no\v.b
"With respect to the number and disposition of
dfriends in Pennsylvania, I am telling you more what
I wish than what I expect to find ; for we have been °
too often deceived by representations of sanguine
friends.6 H. CLINTON.
846: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, 26 April 1781, NARRATIVE [96]^ 57.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract from the Substance of Conversations held
with General Phillips, sent to that General Officer for
his Guidance.
This extract from No. 84 is shown in margins pp 431-432.
84F: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, 26 April 1781, ANSWER [175]^ 90.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of the Substance of several Conversations
that his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton had with
Major-general Phillips, on the Subject of Operations
in the Chesapeak, before his Embarkation on his
Expedition thither, dated April 26, 1781.
This extract from No. 84 is shown inmarginspp 431-432.
848: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, CORRESPONDENCE [19]^ 134.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of several Conversations that His Excellency
Sir Henry Clinton had with Major General Phillips,
on the Subject of Operations in the Chesapeak, be
fore his Embarkation on his Expedition thither.
This extract from No. 84 is shown in margins pp 431-432.
847: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, 26 April 1781, REPLY [78] p 171.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
436 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Extract from the Substance of Conversations held
with General Phillips, sent to that General Officer
for his Guidance.
This extract from No. 84 is shown in margins pp 431-432.
84E : CLINTON and PHILLIPS, Fr trans GERMAIN p 84.
Substance des opinions donnees au major-general
Philips dans diverses conversations avant son em-
barquement au sujet des operations dans la Chesa
peak.
This extract from No. 84 is shown in margins pp 430-432.
8411: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, 26 April 1781, Copy PA 140/39.
Endorsed Substance of Opinions given by Sir H :
Clinton to Major General Phillips previous to his
Embarkation for the Chesapeake. In Sir Hen? Clin-
tons N° 123. of 5th & 20th April 1781.* N° i.
Begins Substance of Opinions given to Major General
Phillips in several Conversations previous to his Em
barkation, on the Subject of Operations in the Chesa-
peak.
Same as No. 84 with variations shown in margins pp 430-435.
84*1: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, Copy LANSDOWNE 68/13.
Begins Substance of several Conversations had with
Major General Phillips on the Subject of operations
in the Chesapeak before his embarkation on his Ex
pedition thither 26 April 1781.
Same as No. 84 with variations shown in margins pp 430-435.
840: CLINTON and PHILLIPS, 26 April 1781, Copy HL No n.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Substance of Opinions given by Sir H> Clin
ton to M Gen1 Phillips, previous to his Embarkation
for the Chesapeak In Sir H> Clinton's of 5 & 20
b°67V: APril I78ib (0
39
Begins Substance of Opinions given to Major General
Phillips, in several Conversations previous to his
Embarkation, on the Subject of Operations in the
Chesapeak.
This extract from No. 84 is shown in margins pp 430-432.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 437
85 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, 26/30 April 1781, ANSWER [95] jp 87.
NARRATIVE [105] p 57, ANSWER [95] p 87, REPLY [79]^ 171.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes from NARRATIVE.
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Major-General Phillips,
dated New-York, April 26th, 1781.
[Received by Earl Cornwallis, at Petersburg, May 24.]
Dear Sir, Your letters of the i5th, i6th, i8th,
and i Qth instant, were delivered to me on the 22d
by Captain Biggs of his Majesty's ship Amphitrite.
And I should have now entered largely into, and
given a detail answer (agreeable to your desire)
to the several subjects thereof, if I had not from the
purport of Lord Cornwallis's letter of the roth, and
yours of the i9th, judged it to be unnecessary at
present to give either you or myself that trouble.
What you say in your letter of the i5th instant,
respecting the post at Portsmouth, and the choice of
another somewhere else on Elizabeth River, you will
find fully answered in mine to you of the 1 1 th which
accompanies this : for (though written above a fort
night since) I had no safe opportunity before the pre
sent of sending it to you.
aLord Cornwallis's arrival at Wilmington has con- a BF 6effi*
siderably changed the complexion of our affairs to
the southward, and all operations to the northward
must probably give place to those in favour of his
Lordship, which at present appear to require our
more immediate attention. I know nothing of his
Lordship's situation but what I have learnt from his
letter to me of the loth, which you have read ;b and
as I have the strongest reason to believe that he had
above three thousand men (exclusive of cavalry and
militia) when he entered North Carolina, I am totally
at a loss to conjecture how his numbers came to be
reduced before the day of action to one thousand
three hundred and sixty infantry, except by suppos
ing (as you have done) that he had previously
weakened his army by detachments. Of this how
ever, I shall probably be informed when I receive
438 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
the copy of his Lordship's letter to the Minister ;
and I shall most likely be at the same time informed
what prospects he may still have of arming the
numerous friends we were taught to expect his find
ing in the districts he has visited in his march to,
and retreat from, Guildford; without whose assis
tance we shall, I fear, hold those provinces by a very
precarious tenure.
*^ ^a^ g168^ h°Pes before I received bLord Corn-
this letter wallis's letter, that his Lordship would have been in
a condition to 6have spared a considerable part of his
army from Carolina for the operations in Cheasapeak,
but you will observe from it that, instead of sending
any part of his present force thither, he proposes
to detain a part of the reinforcement coming from
Europe for his 1more southern operations, even though
they should be defensive. I shall therefore take the
opinions of the General officers near me upon the
Present state of our affairs, and dl propose afterwards
et° send you such a further fdetachment from this
ment°rce~ army as we may judge can be done with tolerable
security to this post, at least while we remain superior
With so large a force as you will then have, I
flatter myself that you will be able to make the most
effectual exertions either directly or indirectly in Lord
Cornwallis's favour, as far as your efforts on the
shores of the Chesapeak can co-operate with what
he may be doing in Carolina. What these, however,
may be, you, as being upon the spot, must certainly
be the best judge, until you either hear further from
or see his Lordship.
* a begin tin yours and Brigadier General Arnold's joint
letter, you mention that from one thousand six
hundred to two thousand more men, would enable
you to take a post in force at Petersburg ; from
whence you might break up Mr. Greene's communi-
lc more southern underlined. 2i 1500.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 439
cations with Virginia, and in co-operation with Lord
Cornwallis, probably disperse the Rebel army. And
that you could moreover, with this increased strength,
attempt Fayette's corps, Baltimore, and Annapolis,
with great probability of success, and finally attempt
Philadelphia, and take post in the lower counties of
Delaware, for which you apprehend your force would
then be sufficient.
aThe security of the two Carolinas is certainly an
object of the greatest importance, and should at all
events be first attended to. Success also against any
considerable corps of the enemy, which may be col
lected any where within reach, and the taking or
destroying their public stores, magazines, &c. are
undoubtedly very important advantages. But there
is in my humble opinion still another operation,
which if successful would be most solidly decisive in
its consequences, and is therefore well worth our
consideration. It is the trying the same experiment
(which has hitherto unfortunately not succeeded to
the southward) in other districts, which have been
represented as most friendly to the King's interests.1 *Vst°Ps
Virginia has been in general looked upon as univer
sally hostile ; Maryland has not been as yet tried,
but is supposed to be not quite so much so : but the
inhabitants of Pennsylvania on both sides of the Sus-
quehannah, York, Lancaster, Chester, and the Penin
sula between Chesapeak and Delaware, are repre
sented to me to be friendly. There or thereabouts
°I think this experiment should now be tried, but it *v continues
cannot be done fairly until we have a force sufficient
dnot only to go there, but to retain a respectable hold
of the country eafterwards, should it be judged neces
sary. I wish that our numbers were competent to
the occupying two corresponding stations fat Balti- {r^tmitsto
more and Elk river. Agreeable to what I mentioned
to you in the conversations we have had together on
this subject,g to which that you may be able on
occasion to refer, I have committed the substance
440 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
of them to writing, and send them to you inclosed.
This I should have done sooner, had I had a safe
opportunity before. I have now the greater reason
to be convinced that the opinions I then gave you
were right, from a conversation I have since had with
that""** a Ver7 intelligent friend of ours from athe country,
known to Colonel Simcoe, who goes to you by this
opportunity, and will be able to give you the fullest
b s ends information thereon.b
April 3Oth. I expected that the Medea would
have been sent to Lord Cornwallis, and that Captain
Duncan would have been appointed by the Admiral
to conduct the naval operations in the Chesapeak,
for which he is particularly qualified from his know
ledge of those waters, and his having had the manage
ment of that business in Lord Howe's command.
But the Admiral has just wrote to me that he cannot
possibly at present spare Captain Duncan, and that
he has appointed Captain Hudson of the Richmond
to carry my dispatches to Chesapeak and Cape Fear,
and afterwards attend this service. My dispatches
will therefore go in her under the charge of Lord
Chewton, and as we both know Captain Hudson's
great zeal to co-operate with the troops on all
occasions, I hope every thing will go on under his
direction perfectly to your satisfaction.
I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON.
856: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 26/30 April 1781, NARRATIVE [105]^ 57.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Inclosed in the above letter the following extracts from
Sir Henry Clinton's letters to Major General Phillips.
This is two parts of No. 85 as shown in margins pp 437-438.
85F: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 26/30 April 1781, REPLY [79]^ 171.
Inclosed in the above letter the following extracts
from Sir Henry Clinton's letters to Major General
Phillips.
This is two parts of No. 85 as shown in margins pp 437-438.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 441
853: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 26/30 April 1781, Extract PA 140/116.
One of several extracts under this endorsement Ex
tracts from Gen1 Sir H : Clintons Letters to Majr Gen1
Phillips N° 3 In Sir Henry Clintons N° 124 of 23d &
30th April & i st May 1 78 1 .a 93
.Bee/ins Extracts of Letters from General Sir Henry
Clinton to Major General Phillips.
This extract from No. 85 is shown in margins pp 438-440.
£57: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 26/30 April 1781, Extracts HL NO 19.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
One of several extracts under this endorsement Ex
tracts of Letters from Gen1 Sir H. Clinton to Major
Gen1 Phillips dated 26th & 3<Dth April & 3d May
1781. In Sir H>r Clinton's of 23d & 3<Dth April & Ist
May i78ib (3) N° 19.
Begins Extracts of Letters from General Sir Henry
Clinton to Major General Phillips. New York 26th
April 1781.
This is two parts of No. 85 as shown in margin p 439.
86 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, 30 April 1781, ANSWER [13] p 85.
ANSWER [13]^) 85, OBSERVATIONS [85 Ap\x]p 130, with Clinton's
Manuscript Notes from each.
Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated
*New-York, April 30, 1781. b[B,eceived, June, 1781.]
°My Lord, Captain Biggs, of his Majesty's ship L»
Amphitrite, who arrived here the 22d, has delivered c
to me your Lordship's two letters from Wilmington,
of the loth instant, informing me of your having
obtained a compleat victory over the rebel General
Greene, near Guildford, on the i5th ult. on which
occasion I beg leave, dmy Lord, to offer your Lord-
ship my most hearty congratulations, and to request
you will present my thanks to Major-General Leslie,
Brigadier-egeneral O'Hara, and Lieutenant-colonel *
Tarleton, for the great assistance you received from
them, and to the officers and men under your
36
442 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
command, for their great exertions on the march
through Carolina, and their persevering intrepidity
in action.
The disparity of numbers between your Lordship's
force and that of the enemy opposed to you, appears
to be very great : and, I confess, I am at some loss
^° guess now your aLordship came to be reduced be
fore the action to one thousand three hundred and
sixty infantry, as, by the distribution sent to me in
your letter of the 6th of January, I am to suppose
it was your intention to take with you the regiments
mentioned in the margin, *j* which (notwithstanding
the loss of the1 seventy-first and legion, in the unfor-
tunate affair of bCowpens) I should imagine must
have amounted to considerably above three thousand,
exclusive of cavalry and militia.
Before I was favoured with your Lordship's letter,
the rebel account of the battle of Guildford had
led me, indeed, to hope, that its consequences
would have been more decisive, and that Greene
would have re-passed the Eoanoke, and left your
Lordship at liberty to pursue the objects of your
move into North Carolina. Under the persuasion,
therefore, that you would soon be able to finish your
arrangements for the security of the Carolinas, I sub-
niitted to you in my letter of the 1 3th instant, c(a
duplicate of which I have the honour to enclose) the
propriety in that case of your going in a frigate to
Chesapeak, and directing such corps to follow you
thither as you judged could be best spared. But, as
it is now probable that your Lordship's presence in
Carolina cannot be so soon dispensed with, dl make
no doubt ethat you will think it right to communi
cate to Major-general Phillips, without delay, the
plan of your future operations in that quarter, to-
2d jtettn ^ BriSade of Guards, Twenty-third, Thirty-third, Seventy-first, ftwo
Battalions, Yagers, Regiment of Bose, Light Infantry, Seventy-first,
gBSonu'i and Sand Legion, North-Carolina Regiment.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 443
gether with your opinion how the Chesapeak army
can best direct their's to assist them. That General-
officer has already under his orders three thousand
five hundred men, and I shall send him one thousand
seven hundred more, which are now embarked, and
will sail whenever the Admiral is ready.4 aBFsnn«
With these, my Lord, which are rank and file fit
for duty, and great part of them taken from the
elite of my army, General Phillips is directed by his
instructions to act in favour of your Lordship, to
the best of his bown judgment, until he receives your
orders, and afterwards cin such manner as you may
please to command him, £c. But I dshallbe sorry to
find your Lordship continue in the opinion that our shou'd
hold of the Carolinas must be difficult, if not pre
carious, until Virginia is in a manner subdued, as
that is an event which, I fear, would require a con
siderable space of time to accomplish, and, as far as
I can judge, it might be not quite so expedient at
this advanced season of the year to enter into a long
operation in that climate. — This, however, will
greatly depend upon circumstances, of which your
Lordship and General Phillips may probably be
better judges hereafter.
With regard to the operations of the summer,
which your Lordship is anxious to receive my di
rections about,2 you cannot but be sensible that they
must in egreat measure depend on your Lordship's eB
successes in Carolina, the certainty and numbers of
the expected reinforcement from Europe, and, like
wise, *on your Lordship's sending back to me the
corps I had spared to you, under Major-general
Leslie, which gColonel3 Rawdon, in his letter of the
3ist hof October, told me you could return in the
spring. For until I am informed of the particulars
of your Lordship's march through North Carolina,
the effective strength of your moving army, your
2aA you might have seen them from Coll Balfour.
had you received my dispatches 3aA Lord.
444 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
p[an of operations for carrying* those objects you had
or may have in view, into execution, as well by
the corPs Acting under your bown immediate orders,,
as those acting in co-operation under Major-general
Phillips, it must be obviously impossible for me to
determine finally upon a plan of operations for the
campaign.
I was indeed in great hopes that your successes in
North Carolina would have been such as to have put
it in my power to avail myself of a large portion of
your Lordship's army, the whole Chesapeak corps,
and the centire Reinforcement from Europe, for this
campaign's operations to the northward of Carolina :
ft^ j observe with concern, from your Lordship's
letter, that so far from being in a condition to spare
me any part of your present force, you are of opinion
that part of the European reinforcement will be
indispensibly necessary to enable you to act offen
sively, or even to maintain yourself in the upper
parts of the country.4*5
Had I known what your Lordship's further offen
sive measures were intended to be for the remaining
part of the season, I might now have given an
Opinion Upon them, as well as eupon the probable
co-operation of the corps in fthe Chesapeak, without
having which it will be gscarce possible for me to
form any ; for as I said before, I fear no solid opera
tion can be carried on to the northward of Chesa-
Pea^ before those to the southward of it are h to tally
at an end, either from success, or the season ; and
mv jester to your Lordship of the 6th 'of November
will have informed you what were my ideas of the
operations proper to be pursued in Chesapeak, and
my expectations from them, had circumstances ad
mitted of my pursuing the plan to its full extent.
4aA It clearly seemed by Lord Loyalists of 1ST. Carolina to do so.
Cornwall's letter of the loth 5bQ If his Lordp had had the
April, not only that he intended least Idea of going into Virgina
to return to the Upper Carolinas, he should have said so on his first
but that he had promised the poor arrival at Wilmington.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 445
But I must now defer afixing ultimately on a plan for
the campaign, until I am made acquainted with the
final success of your Lordship's operations, your pro
spects and sentiments, and I can judge what force I
can collect for such measures as I can then de
termine bupon.c
I have the honourd to be, &c. eH. CLINTOX. JeBowit'to
_. e BFSVE in-
86B: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [85 Ap'x]p 130.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Copy. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated
New York, April 30, 1781.
Same as No. 86 with variations shown in margins gp 441-445.
86F: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 30 April 1781, Copy PA 140/123.
Endorsed Copy. Sir Henry Clinton to Lieutenant
General Earl Cornwallis. April 3Oth 1781. N° 4
In Sir Henry Clintons N° 124 of 23d & 3Oth April and fNo-g(J 45g
Ist May 1781.'
Same as No. 86 with variations shown in margins pp 441-445.
86s: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 30 April 1781, Copy RI 19/68.
Same as No. 86 with variations shown in margins pp 441-445.
86v: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 30 April 1781, Copy HL No 20.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis dated April 30*
1781. In Sir Hr Clinton's of 23d & 3Oth April & Ist
May 1781.' (4) N'20.
Same as No 86 with variations shown in margins pp 441-445.
86E: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 30 April 1781, Copy HL No 55.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to
Earl Cornwallis, dated New York 3<Dth April 1781.
Transmitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir HF Clinton's
of ist May 1781. E/ 23d June. N° 55.
Same as No 86 with variations shown in margins pp 441-445.
£6n: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 30 April 1781, Extract PA 140/557.
One of several extracts under this endorsement Ex
tracts from the Correspondence between Sir Henry
446 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Clinton and Earl Cornwallis on the Subject of Opera
tions in the Chesapeak & an Expedition against
Philadelphia, (n) In Sir Henry Clinton's Letter of
the 13th Julya QO also endorsed Sent 4th May.
Begins Extract. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis,
dated New York April 3Oth 1781.
This extract from, No. 86 is shown in margins pp 442-445.
87 CLINTON TO GERMAIN, 30 April 1781, 1,3 PA 140/71.
NARRATIVE [35] p 42, ivith Clintons MS. Note.
Endorsed New York, 3Oth April 1781 Sir Henry
Clinton PKIVATE. R/ 23d June.
Private. New York 3Oth April I78I.1
My Lord, I am not insensible of the Justness of
the Reasonings your Lordship has honored me with
in Your Letter, N° 76. And I dare flatter myself
that so much Justice will be done to my Zeal for the
King's Service, and the Interests of my Country, as
to believe I shall not fail to use every Exertion & the
utmost Endeavors in my Power to bring the American
War to a Conclusion. To attain which great Object,
I may with Confidence assert, that I have seized
every Advantage, and profited by every Occasion,
which have presented themselves since I have been
honored with this Command.
At the Time I informed Your Lordship, in my
Letter of the 12th of November, that Major General
Leslie was called by Earl Cornwallis from the
li this letter was written as a Subaltern General which they at
consilliatory one when they had last disapprove, and reapprove
forced me to serve still another that of the Commander in Chief
Campn but promised me the means alas to late and when he is
of finishing it without affront, deeply and dangerously engaged
but it cannot mean to Ease the in that they had ordered him to
Cabinet of that day of a charge adopt. His Maj Cabinet of that
which I shall ever consider de- day were Lord North Lord G.
serving of impeachment, the advis- Germain Lord Amherst Lord
ing his Majesty to reject the plan Chanr Thurlow Lord Gower, Lord
of the Comr in chief (which they Sandwich and I believe Lord
had repeatedly approved), the Mansfield.
ordering him to adopt that of a
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 447
Chesapeak to Cape Fear, I told you that my then
threatened Situation rendered it inexpedient for me
immediately to reoccupy the Post he had taken in
Elizabeth River. But the Importance of the Objects
I had in View, when I sent that Expedition thither,
was too forcibly impressed on my Mind to permit me
to neglect doing it, the very moment the Causes
which restrained me were removed. And I am
happy to find, I have been so fortunate to anticipate
His Majesty's Pleasure in this particular, by having
so soon afterwards detached Brigadier General
Arnold on that Service, and further strengthened
our Hold of the Chesapeak by the Reinforcement
sent thither under Major General Phillips.
It gives me Pain, my Lord, when I feel myself
obliged to trouble your Lordship with my Distresses.
But my Regard to the King's Interests and the
Duties of the very important Command He has
honored me with, cannot but excite in me the
most anxious Solicitude. Your Lordship will there
fore, I am persuaded, forgive me if I recall your
Attention to the very disagreeable Predicament in
which I now stand, — being on the Eve of opening
the Campaign before I know the Naval Chief, to
whom I am to communicate my Plans, and with
whom I am to consult upon the Measures to be pur
sued in the Course of our Operations. Eight long
Months have elapsed since your Lordship did me
the Honor of telling me that His Majesty was
graciously pleased to listen to my Representations,
and had appointed Admiral Arbuthnot to relieve
Sir Peter Parker ; and that another Flag Officer
then on the List would be immediately named to
the Naval Command in North America. Being in
Consequence of this Information unwilling to
trouble the Vice Admiral with a Consultation
upon Operations, which his Removal from the
Naval Command here would of Course prevent
his being concerned in ; and not having received
448 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
any Intimation from him of his Intentions of going
to Jamaica ; I thought it my Duty to endeavor to
ascertain what they were. I therefore in the Pres
ence of a General Officer, and in the civilest Manner
I was capable of, requested that the Admiral would
inform me whether he proposed leaving us soon, and
gave him my Keasons. His Answer was, that he
never had received any Official Intimation of the
King's Pleasure, respecting his relieving Sir Peter
Parker, nor any public Letters of a later Date than
October. As this Conversation was subsequent to
the Arrival of the Cormorant, which did not sail
from Torbay before the latter End of February, I
own I am at a Loss to account for what he said. I
shall, however, wait the Arrival of another Packet.
By which, if Admiral Arbuthnot is not recalled ;
I trust, that His Majesty from His gracious Good
ness will pardon me, if I avail myself of the Permis
sion He has been pleased to give me to resign this
Command to Lord Cornwallis. For I must be free
to own to Your Lordship, that I cannot place a
Confidence in Vice Admiral Arbuthnot ; who, from
Age, Temper, and Inconsistency of Conduct, is
really so little to be depended on, that was I to
continue to serve with him, I should be constantly
under the most distressing Apprehensions of the
Miscarriage of such Enterprizes as we might be en
gaged in.
I beg leave, my Lord, to take the Liberty now of
saying a few Words to a Part of the Message your
Lordship did me the Honor of sending to me by
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce, who delivered it to me in
writing, and it is as follows.
"Lord George Germain strongly recommends it
"to Sir Henry Clinton, either to remain in good
" Humour, in full Confidence to be supported as
" much as the Nature of the Service will admit of, or
"avail himself of the leave of coming home; as no
" Good can arise to the Service, if there is not a full
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 449
" Confidence between the General and the Ministers."
By this, my Lord, it would appear that your Lord
ship thought I had expressed myself with some Im
patience in the Representations I had made to Your
Lordship of our Wants, in regard to the necessary
Supplies. I therefore feel myself called upon to assure
Your Lordship, that I have been always too sensible
of your ready Attention to all my Requisitions, to
address myself intentionally to your Lordship in
such a Stile. But when your Lordship reflects,
that I have been more than once, since I have
had this Command, within a very few days of a most
dangerous Want of Provisions — and that no Part of
the last Year's supply sailed from Europe before
August, notwithstanding the Orders issued (as I am
convinced) by the Treasury Board for their being
ready early in the Year. — I am persuaded you will
acquiesce in the Necessity I was under of soliciting
in the strongest Terms, that this Army might not be
again reduced to the like alarming Situation. To
this, my Lord, I beg leave to add, that, notwith
standing Major General Pattison applied in March
for small Arms to replace those lost in an Ordnance
Ship, and to answer other Deficiencies, which he of
course explained to the Board of Ordnance — none
were received here in Return for thirteen or fourteen
Months afterwards : and that altho' the Commanding
Officer of Artillery here made a Requisition, by my
Orders, in October last for 20,000, Stand of small
Arms ; and the Application was repeated immediately
after in the most urgent Terms thro' Brigadier
General Dalrymple, I am at this Hour uncertain
whether they are even on their Passage, tho' the
most serious Operations may probably be soon at a
Stand for Want of them. Forgive me, my Lord, if
I likewise take the Liberty of reminding your Lord
ship, that, tho' only a third of the Reinforcement,
which I was a Supplicant for from a Conviction of
the absolute Necessity there was for it, was granted
57
450 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTEOVEESY
me ; even that, small as it is, will not I fear arrive
here before we are far advanced in the Campaign —
the Commencement of which ought not (in my
Opinion) to be delayed beyond the Month of May.
Besides these, my Lord, I could perhaps mention
many other Instances, in which I have and am suffer
ing for Want of a more timely Compliance with my
Requisitions. — al am, however, aware of the Diffi
culties Administration must necessarily be exposed
to, from the Variety of important Matters which
demand its Attention; and far be it from me, my
Lord, to impute the Delays I have experienced, to
an7 of the King's Ministers; — But I cannot bbut
lamenting jamen^ that they do happen ; and I tremble for the
fatal Consequences, which may possibly some time or
other ensue.0
I have the Honor to be With the greatest Respect
Your Lordship's Most Obedient & Most humble
Servant. H. CLINTON.
Eight Honble Lord George Germain.
8yB: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 30 April 1781, NARRATIVE [35] p 42.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Sir Henry Clinton's letter to Lord George Germain,,
dated April 30, 1781.
This extract from No. 87 is shown in margin p 450.
88 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, 30 April 1781, ANSWER [105] p 87.
NARRATIVE [ 1 06] p 57, ANSWER [105] p 87, REPLY [80] p iji,witk.
Clinton's Manuscript Notes from each.
(Secret, and most private.)1
Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general Phillips,
dated New York, 3oth April, 1781.
[Received by Earl Cornwallis at Petersburg.]
IbA is not this to be considered Clinton at variance — &of deliver-
as a very private letter, should it ing up Col. Rankin and a whole
have been printed ? could the pub- district to the resentment of Con-
lishing answer any other purpose gress ? I appeal ! ! !
but setting the old Admiral & S H
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 451
aDear Phillips, I cannot judge from Lord Corn-
wallis's letter, whether he proposes any further
operations in the Carolinas — what they may be —
and how far you can operate in his favour. If I
was to give a private opinion from reading his letter
— I would say, I cannot conceive from it that he has
any offensive object in view. He says, that North-
Carolina is a country, in which it is impossible for
an army to act or move without the assistance of
friends : he does not seem to think we have any
there — nor do you. I shall give no opinion respect
ing that at present, or until I receive his Lordship's
account of the state of the province, and of his
winter campaign.
His Lordship tells me that he wants reinforce
ment. — With nine British battalions, and detach
ments from seven more, (besides those from the
Artillery and seventeenth Dragoons) — five Hessian
battalions, and a detachment of Yagers — and eleven
Provincial battalions, exclusive of the cavalry and
infantry of the Legion, and the Provincial Light
Infantry ; — I would ask, — How can that be possible ?
And if it is, what hopes can I have of a force suf
ficient to undertake any solid operation ?
bTo be brief — °If his Lordship proposes no opera-
tion to you soon,d and you see none that will operate
for him edirectly — (that is, before the ffirst of June,)
— I think the best indirect one in his favour will
be, what you and General Arnold hproposed to me in
No. 10. of your joint letter of the i8th instant, 'begin-
ning with the attempt on Philadelphia. The only risk
you run is from a temporary superiority of the enemy
at sea.k — Land and naval reinforcements ^rom France
are talked of — If they come immediately from
Europe, we must have some information of them,
and they will, I hope, be followed; — if from the fromFran<*
West-Indies, I hope the same. mlt is however an
important move, and ought (in my opinion) to be
tried, even with some risk.n If our friends are as
452
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a V reads B.
~b V neiv ^
BF con
tinue
c BFV rear?
information
d V inserts
the
BP omit
Delaware
e BF stop
8 runs on
f E continues
g YE sfap
li BF contin
ue as neiv ^f
i BP omit
this parti
cular
k BP read
the com
mand
1 BF read
Cornwallis
m BF omit
manage
ment
numerous and hearty as Colonel aRankin2 represents
them to be, with their assistance added to what you
carry thither, you will be able to maintain yourself.
But if, after having given the experiment a fair trial,
you find it will not do ; you may either retire to
Portsmouth, or by transports and boats in Delaware
pass to Jersey — where, at all events, I must pick you
up, by receiving you at, or near, Mount Holly. bGive
me timely "notice of your intended move, and, if pos
sible, I will follow you intod3*4'5'6 Delaware with such
a small reinforcement as I can at the time spare.6
fAs my invitation to Lord Cornwallis7'8 to come to
the Chesapeak was upon a supposition that every
thing would be settled in the Carolinas, I do not
think he will come ; — if however, he determines to
do so as a visitor, he will get Barklay or some other
to bring him,g for the Admiral has this day only
ordered a ship for the purpose — and the one he has
ordered cannot (I apprehend) get over the bar of
Cape Fear.
Our Admiral is grown, if possible, more imprac
ticable than ever.9 He swears to me that he knows
nothing of his recall — to others he says, he is going
home immediately. hlf the next packet does not
satisfy10 me in ^his particular,11'12'13'14 I shall pro
bably retire, and leave khim to Lord ^ornwallis's
mmanagement.15'16 — To whom it will be my advice
to try the only experiment17 that (in my opinion) can
2aA this gentlemans name
should not' have been mention'd.
3bcN Delaware
4fN Delaware
5bN Baltimore Philadelphia &c.
6cN Baltimore Philadelphia &
Isthmus of Delaware.
7bA Cornwallis underlined.
8bA in person only.
9aA this also should have
been left out : it seems to have
been introduced merely to make
bad blood between the Admiral &
I, & the Navy and Army.
10cN not satisfy underlined.
HaN in respect to Admiral
Arbuthnots recall.
12a]ST that Mr Arbuthnot quits
the command of the Fleet.
13bN" Mr Arbuthnots removal
14fiklmnopqrsN. Arbuthnot re
called.
15bX I fear this information
reached L. Corns & made him
form the desire of command so
anxiously, " look northward."
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 453
operate, if the one in Carolina has failed. — aAs to
Virginia, I know none which can reduce that pro
vince in one campaign1". — 18*19 Though it is certainly
a great exertion, the only one that appears to me is
the above. If I stay it shall be tried. Without
a co-operating naval Chief, the risk is doubly
great: — it would be sufficiently so with one. But
if it succeeds, its consequences must be very decisive.
May 2(1. The reinforcement is embarked, and
fallen down to Staten Island, where they wait only
the Admiral's pleasure for their proceeding to Chesa-
peak. Two days ago he offered to take them thither
under the escort of his fleet — to-day he writes to me,
"that he thinks he cannot be justified in losing a
" moment to proceed off the Chesapeak ; but if I
" think it of greater consequence to land the rein-
" forcement of troops proposed to be sent there, than
" to intercept the enemy, he will take the transports
" with him — otherwise, he shall certainly leave them
" behind, until it is known where the enemy's fleet
"is lodged, of which he will transmit the earliest
" information to me, and then appoint a convoy to
" bring them on." cln answer, I have acknowledged
the very great importance of intercepting the French
fleet — but that it is also of importance that this
reinforcement should join you immediately, and leave
to him (as being the best judge) the properest mode
of accomplishing it with safety. — Thus the matter
rests.
respect to acU Arbuthnot ISclST particularly if it com-
I had been often assured that the menced with the sickly season (in
good Old Admiral should be Em- June) nor could we ever hold that
ployed elsewhere but Lord Sand- inimical Province any longer than
wich opposed it, I had said that if it we were covered by a Fleet, I was
did not take place soon I would quit, always convinced that the better
Lord Cornwallis Icneiv this, and I way of conquering that Province
believe it was his principal reason was by holding Delaware neck &c
for forcing himself near me, in the & healthy safe & well stocked
hope I should resign to him. 19aN Philadelphia Delaware
17cN only experiment under- neck with a Corresponding Corps
lined. on Susquehanna.
454
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a S reads
reinforce
ments
bBFVE
continue as
new f
c V reads
saw
d VE insert
tome
e BFS read
operation
f BF stop &
insert &c.
g VE read
reinforce
ment
h E stops
k S reads
here
p BFVE stop
q 8 readsyou.
and General
Arnold
should like
it
May %d. As I am (from the Admiral's strange
conduct) doubtful when or whether the Reinforce
ment will ever join you, I do not now send Colonel
Eankin to you, as I at first proposed — but I enclose
his proposals. You will see by them that he is not
much of an officer — but he appears to be a plain,
sensible man, worth attending to — And Simcoe can
explain a thousand things respecting him and his
associates, which I cannot in a letter. bAs you
seemed to think (before you deceived Lord Corn-
wallis's letterd) that all direct Operations in favour of
his Lordship would cease by the end of Mayf ; should
the Expedition not sail from hence before the 2Oth
inst. and I do not hear further from you, I will not
send it:h for, in that case, I think the experiment
on the peninsula may be tried to more advantage
up Delaware than round by Chesapeak: in which
case I shall expect General Arnold and you, with
such troops as you can spare, to meet me at "the
head of Elk or Bohemia, and form a junction. I
can certainly spare more troops from khence for such
a move than I can send to Chesapeak, for reasons
obvious. Tray let me receive General Arnold's and
your mopinions nupon Colonel °Bankin's proposals as
soon as possible. I confess I am not sanguine ; but
if the experiment can20 be tried without any other
risk than from the enemy's superiority at sea, I
should wish to do itp.21 Therefore if qGeneral
Arnold and you like it, I shall be reconciled to it,
and it shall22 be tried, after I know your opinions
on it, and the inclosed proposals — and if you ap
prove, about what time you think the attempt may
take place. I am persuaded, that on application,
Captain Hudson will give you a frigate for your
dispatches. If we move up Delaware, Captain
20cN can underlined. have been considered as an order
21bA by G. Phillips Corce with to L Cornwallis as it was to Genl
S H C. L. C said he approved it, Phillips to try it.
Arnold advised his Lordship to try 22bA shall underlined.
it, ought not this letter therefore
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 455
Duncan, (Lord Howe's Captain,) will conduct us.
I have already talked to him on the subject, and
he approves.
alf Lord Cornwallis proposes any thing necessary
for his operations, you of course must adopt it if you
can, letting me know your thoughts thereon. B ut
bshould his Lordship determine on a defensive in the b BF C0nti2~
•i- ue as new T|
Carolinas, he surely cannot want any of the European
"reinforcement, and will of course send it to you, and
all such other as shall arrive. Thus reinforced, if ments
after leaving a sufficient garrison in Elizabeth river,
you can proceed dto ethe peninsula23'24'25 ; I think we
shall be in force to give this a fair trial :f and I may
leave you in the command there, unless things should
take a more favourable turn in the Carolinas, and
Lord Cornwallis's presence there be no longer neces
sary26 ; for, until they do, I should imagine he will
not gleave Carolina.27
You will think me long-winded. But as safe op
portunities are not frequent, I must make the best
use I can of this. I refer you for more information
to Lord Chewton, who is the bearer of my dis
patches.28 hH. CLINTON. sincerel?
23aN Head of Elk. troduced to prove that was dis-
241N Baltimore &c. contented, & that my plans were
25cN Baltimore & Delaware rejected, what says L. G. Germain
neck. of the yth & 14. July, that they
26t>N I never had Idea of solid were adopted and expressing a wish
operation in Virginia in the sickly that I might not resign to L.
season, tis plain I never wished to Cornwallis but it proves also that
keep the bay but with frigates, till I could have no Idea of L. C coming
the Carolinas were reduced & we into Virginia, & proves that when
could go into Chesapeak in force. he did come he saw my plan for
27bN contrary to my orders. the campaign if he had not pre-
2811 I suppose this letter is in- vented it.
88B : CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 30 April 1781, NARRATIVE [106]^ 57.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
April 30, 1781. To the same.
This is siv parts of No. 88 as shown in margins pp 451-455, with
the following additional ivords :
N.B. These two letters with other dispatches fell
456 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
into Lord Corn wallis's hands on General Phillips's death
and were opened by his Lordship ; and the expedition
thereinproposed1'2recommendedtohisconsideration.3'4
88r: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 30 April 1781, REPLY [80] p 171.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
April 30, 1781. To the same.
This is six parts of No. 88 as shown in margins pp 451-455.
88s: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 30 April 1781, Copy LANSDOWNE 68/14.
One of several copies under this endorsement Copies
of Letters between Sir H7 Clinton Earl Cornwallis
L Gen1 Phillips relative to the Operations of the
Southern army April May June 1781.
Same as No. 88 with variations shoivn in margins pp 451-455.
88v: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 30 April 1781, Extract PA 140/119.
One of several extracts under this endorsement
Extracts from Gen1 Sir H: Clintons Letters to Majr
Gen1 Phillips. N° 3 In Sir Henry Clintons N° 124
a NO. 90* Of 23d & 30th April & ist May i78i.a
In margin Private & most Secret. N York April
30th 1781.
This is three parts of No. 88 as shown in margins pp 451-455.
88E: CLINTON to PHILLIPS, 30 April 1781, Extract HL No 19.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
One of several extracts under this endorsement Extracts
of Letters from Gen1 Sir H. Clinton to Major Gen1
Phillips dated 26th & 3<Dth April & 3d May 1781. In
Sir H> Clinton's of 23d & 3Oth April & ist May
B, I7gl.b (3) NO I9.
Begins Private & most secret. New York April 3Oth
1781.
This is five parts of No. 88 as shown in margins pp 451-455.
IfklmnoprsN nay ordered. was ordered to carry into execu-
2iN nay ordered for all that tion.
Phillips had been ordered to exe- 4cN The reason for the above
cute it became Lord Cornwallis to blanks was that the war was
persue. not finished when this was writ-
3a]ST and which Gen Phillips ten.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE
457
1
a
a
o
o
?H
<D
00
^
<! 5
o
•^ 02
£^
• i-H ^
0)
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•3
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1
10
CO
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h- 1
>H"
1
1
H
E
p
E
<1
H
OJ
P^
H
H
B
o
5
M
te
5
PROVINCIALS.
North Carolina
Volunteers,
Light Company.
CO
CO
British Legion.
CO
J>*
M
GERMAN.
Regiment of
Bose.
oo
C4
OJ
BRITISH.
Eighty-second
Regiment,
Light Company.
VQ
CO
Seventy-first
Regiment,
Two Battalions.
to
X^
Thrty-third
Regiment.
ON
O
<N
Regiment.
Twenty-third
rt-
ON
HH
Brigade of
Guards.
t^x
00
CO
1
M
00
t->.
HH
NH
fe-
a
458 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
90 CLINTON TO GERMAIN,23/3o April& i May 1781, LS PA 140/83.
NARRATIVE [103] JP 57, with Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Endorsed New York, 23d & 3Oth April & ist May
1781. Sir Henry Clinton N° 124. E/ 23d June
a NO. eos: (g Inclosures*) Entd.
P NO. TOR : b^0 j 24>e New York 2 3d April 1781.
I have the Honor to acknowledge the
Receipt of Your Lordship's Original Dispatch, N° 76,
*o. 85s : 'j;wo Letters from Mr Knox, dated 4th of January,
and Duplicates of your Lordship's Dispatches, markd
^ NO. 88V: NOS j^ & j ^ Separate Letter of the 6th: and circular
One of the 7th December ; Which, having been taken
out of the Cormorant Sloop at Sea, by His Majesty's
Ship Chatham, were delivered to me Yesterday.
His Majesty's Ship Amphitrite having also at the
same time brought me Dispatches from Carolina, I
have the Honor to inclose to your Lordship the Copy
of a Letter I deceived by her from Earl Cornwallis,
dated the ioth Instant. This being the only
authentic Information I have as yet had of his
Lordship's March, and the Battle of Guildford, eand
his Lordship having proposed to send one of his
Aid's de Camp immediately to England, with a
particular Account of all his Proceedings, I
shall decline troubling your Lordship with any
other Observations thereon ; than to confess myself
at a Loss to conceive how his Lordship's Numbers
came to be reduced before the Action to 1,360,
Infantry, as he says all his Military Operations were
uniformly successfull ; and as from every Information
given me I have great Reason to believe his Lordship
had above 3,000, Men, besides Cavalry, and Militia,
when he entered North Carolina.
In the Hope that Lord Cornwallis's Success
amongst our Friends in North Carolina, which was
the principal Object of his March into that Province,
would have been such as to have restored it, and
South Carolina to Tranquility ; I had, in a Letter I
wrote to his Lordship on the ioth Instant, submitted
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 459
to him the Propriety in that Case of his coming in
a Frigate to the Chesapeak. And, tho' it is now
probable that he may not think his Presence in
Carolina can be so soon dispensed with ; it is pos
sible, as he seems of Opinion that his Army cannot
be in a Condition again to act before it is reinforced,
that his Lordship may perhaps avail himself of that
Invitation to go thither, to consult with Major
General Phillips. In which Case such Plans will of
Course be settled between them, as may best assist
what further Operations his Lordship may still
propose to carry on in the Carolinas during the
Eemainder of the Season. After those are over,
such others will take Place to the Northward of
them, as the Reinforcements we may receive shall
enable us to undertake. For I have ever been
sensible of the very great Importance of Operations
in Chesapeak ; tho' I am aware that they are attended
with great Risk, unless we are sure of a permanent
Superiority at Seaa — with less, however, in the *FEst°p
District between Chesapeak, & Delaware, than in
any other. bBut I must cbeg leave, my Lord, in this
place to observe, that I cannot agree to the Opinion
given me by Lord Cornwallis in his last Letter, that leave
the Chesapeak should become the Seat of War, even
(if necessay) at the Expence of abandoning New
Yorkd : as I must ever regard this Post to be of the d FE ttop
utmost Consequence, whilst it is thought necessary
to hold Canada, with which, & the Northern
Indians, it is so materially connected. We should
moreover by such a Measure leave to the Mercy of
the Enemy, nearly 25,000 Inhabitants of a very
valuable & extensive District, which is in general
supposed to be loyal ; and relinquish the only
Winter Port the King's Ships have to the Northward.
To these, my Lord, might be added a thousand other
Considerations (amongst which, its Proximity to the
undecided District of Vermont is not the least in
Weight) but that I am persuaded they are too
460 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
obvious to Your Lordship to require my troubling
You with the Recital.
aApril 3<Dth — I have the Honor to inclose to
your Lordship Extracts from such Parts of Major
General Phillips's last Dispatches, and my Answers,
^° kim & Lord Cornwallis as bappear to be
most material; and to inform You, that after
consulting General Knyphausen and General Robert-
lhiaeads son uPon chis Requisition for a still further Reinforce
ment, I do not hesitate to send him one as soon as
the Admiral's Fleet is prepared for Sead, tho' I shall
thereby leave this Post with a Force very inadequate
to fa Defence. — eBut, as the Plans I had in View for
the Campaign must necessarily have undergone a
considerable Change since the Knowledge given me
of Lord Cornwallis's Situation, in his Letter of the
IC)th f^ns^an^ it may not be necessary to say much
to your Lordship on some of those we had in
Meditation before the Receipt of it ; it being
probable that Lord Cornwallis will of course have
given General Phillips Directions to employ the
Chesapeak Corps in such Operations, as he judges
may best assist his own in Carolina, with which
however, your Lordship will perceive that I am as
yet totally unacquainted.
As soon as the Inclemency of the Season shall
have put an End to Lord Cornwallis's offensive
Measures in the Carolinas, Operation will of Course
begin to the Northward of them*. And, should
Circumstances at the Time render it expedient, it
may not be improper to give a fair Trial to, perhaps
the only Experiment, which may be then left us,
of ascertaining the Temper, Firmness and Zeal of
our Friends in the Districts bordering on the upper
Chesapeak. But this Experiment, tho' so likely to
be most important in its Consequences, should it
succeed, ought not (for Reasons but too obvious) to
be risked, unless we are at the Time of making it
in Force sufficient to give it the fairest Trial, and
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 461
finally to establish ourselves there in their Support,
should it be judged necessary to do so. For Experi
ence, my Lord, has but too fatally taught us, that if
by desultory Movements we tempt our Friends to rise
and join us, and are afterwards obliged to leave them
(no matter from what Causes) we leave them to Ruin,
— and of course lose their future Confidence, and
with it, our Hopes of finishing this Business. aYour
Lordship will have seen, in the Paper I had the
Honor to send You in my last Dispatch, what Force
I judged would be requisite for this Service — not less,
my Lord, than io,ooobl Rank & File fit for Duty —
indeed I wish they could be more. But the in
closed Returns will shew your Lordship, that after
leaving cthis Place to its present Garrison d( which is
very inadequate indeed, and such as I dare not trust
it to in a more advanced Season), and leaving 1,000, l°™omitsto
Men in the Post in Elizabeth River, (supposing it
may not be found necessary to occupy another
Station ethere,) I shall not have quite 5,000, Men
for it. — Unless the three Battalions expected from
the West Indies arrive in proper Time, & Condition
for Service, or Lord Cornwallis should be able to
spare from his Defensive in Carolina (when he deter
mines fon it)2 a considerable Part of the Army under
his immediate Command — which however, his Lord
ship's Letter of the ioh ggives me no Hopes of —
or indeed that he will even spare me the three
Regiments coming from Ireland. hWith these 5,000,
however, my Lord, Circumstanced as your Lordship's
Letter N° 76 describes us to be, I may possibly de
termine to risk (even by desultory Movements) the
Trial of this Experiment ; should I find the Report
given me of our Friends in that Country properly
foundedk. For one of the Principal of them, who
la Rank to Duty run ihrouyTi. operation in N. Carolina that
2b depending on my orders would take a healthy defensive in
to His lordship and his promise the back country and send me
I expected when he had finished what he could spare.
462
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a B continues
b B ends &c
c FE con
tinue
d FE end
S ends i am
&caH.
Clinton
e V ends &c
(Signed) H,
Clinton
is now with me, assures me, that the Distresses the
People have suffered under their new Government
(which they declare they cannot possibly live under
any longer) have greatly increased in that District
the Number of Wellwishers to the old Constitution,
and that a very considerable Body of real & respect
able Friends will heartily join us, whenever we make
our Appearance there. I shall give no Opinion yet
upon this Business, and shall only again say, my
Lord, that, once convinced the French do not mean
to send a Reinforcement to this Country, I may
perhaps determine to try the Experiment, should a
favorable Moment for it appear. alf it succeeds as
fully as our sanguine Friends would persuade us to
hope, we may possibly be able to maintain ourselves
there with a small Force. But, if we are in a Situa
tion to give the Experiment a fair3 Trial, and it then
fails, I shall, I confess, have little Hopes afterwards
of reestablishing Order on this Continent; — which,
I am free to own, I think can never be effected
without the cordial Assistance4 of numerous5 Friends.b
°May Ist. — The Admiral having this day signified to
me, that he means to lose no Time in proceeding
to Sea with his Fleet ; the Transports with the
Troops intended for Chesapeak immediately fell
down to Staten Island ; where they wait his Plea
sure to go thither, either under the Convoy of such
Ships of War as he may appoint, or under that of
his Fleet, should he think proper to take them
along with him — which will of course depend on
the Situation of the Enemy's Squadron at Rhode
Island, which by the last Accounts from thence was
said to be ready to sail.d
I have the Honor to be6 With the Greatest Respect
Your Lordships Most Obedient & Most humble
Servant H. CLINTON.
Right Honorable Lord George Germain
3c fair underlined. 5c numerous underlined.
4c cordial assistance underlined.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 463
9<DB: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 30 April 1781, NARRATIVE [103] p 57.
With Clinton 's Manuscript Notes.
One of several extracts under this heading Extract
from Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord George
Germain.
Begins April 30, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 90 as sliown in margins pp 461-462.
9<DF: CLINTON to GERMAIN, Fr trans GERMAIN^? 87.
Extrait d'une lettre de Sir Henri Clinton, au lord
George Germain, datee de la Nouvelle-York les 23
30 avril & i mai 1781.
This is jive parts of No. 90 as shown in margins pp 458-462.
908 : CLINTON to GERMAIN, 23/30 April & i May, Copy PA 309/104.
In margin New York, 23d & 3Oth April & Ist May
1781 Sir Henry Clinton N° 124. Ed 23d June.
Mem. at end Inclosures N° i. Copies of a Letter to Sir
H^ Clinton & a Proclamation by Lord Cornwallis,
with a List of Officers killed & wounded on the
Action of the 15th of March 1781. 2. Extracts from
Major General Phillips's Letters to Sir Henry Clinton.
3. Extracts from Sir H^ Clintons letters to Gen1
Phillips. 4. Copy of a Letter from Sir H^ Clinton to
Earl Cornwallis. 5. State of several Corps under Sir
H? Clinton. 6. State of the Troops under General
Phillips.
Same as No. 90 with variations shown in margins pp 458-462.
9ov: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 23/30 April and i May, Copy RI 22/96.
Endorsed N° 124. Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Geo.
Germain, April 23d to May Ist 1781. Orig1 ^ the
Thynne Packet. Duple ?• the Confederate. Vide
Correspondences referred to . 2 1 2 .
Same as No. 90 with variations shown in margins pp 458-462. NO. 60V :
__«,_ _ p 372
No. 768 :
90E: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 23/30 April & i May, Extract* HL No 16. jo4l4
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 25 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton
to Lord George Germain, dated 23d & 3Oth April, &
Ist May 1781. E/ 23d June. Earl Cornwall's
464 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Letter to Sir H> Clinton enclosed in this Letter is
amongst those papers laid before the House 18 Feb^
N° 90 N° 16.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to
Lord George Germain dated New York 23d April
1781.
This is Jive parts of No. 90 as shown in margins pp 458-462.
91 GERMAIN TO CLINTON, 2 May 1781, LS RI 22/100.
NARRATIVE [8] p n and [51] p 56.
With Clintons MS. Notes from NARRATIVE and GERMAIN.
Endorsed Duplicate. Secret. Lord Geo : Germain
to Sir H. Clinton K.B. Whitehall 2d May 1781
Concerning operations in America 160.
av begins *Secret (Duplicate) Whitehall 2d May 1781.
and omits \ Jr / J I
Sir? °By the Mail of the Mercury Packet, I received,
on the 25th of last Month, your Dispatches numbered
from 118 to 122, one of the 28th February, one of the
Ist, two of the 8th, and one of the 9th March, marked
separate, & immediately laid them before the King. A
Vessel, sent Express by Vice Admiral Arbuthnot
a E omits from the Chesapeake, had arrived the day before/ and
brought the very agreeable and important Intelli
gence of his having defeated the french Admiral's
Project, of carrying his Squadron, and a Detachment
of french Troops to attack General Arnold in concert
with the Eebel Forces, and of the Arrival of Major
General Phillips in James River with his Reinforce-
6 s inserts ment.6 The Plan of the Enemy was certainly judi-
™oi«spiim- ciously laid, and if Admiral Arbuthnot had not had
the good Fortune to overtake the french Fleet before
they entered the Chesapeake, the Destruction of
General Arnold & his small Corps would probably
have been effected, which must have put a Stop to
Lord Cornwallis's Progress, & blasted all Our hopes
of recovering the Southern Provinces this Campaign.
Although therefore I greatly regret that all the french
Ships escaped, I rejoice exceedingly in the Success
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 465
we have had, as it has delivered Us from such great
and imminent danger, and given Confidence to Our
hopes that Lord Cornwallis will be able to effect a
Junction with General Phillips, whose Co-operation,
with the considerable Force he Commands, must
greatly facilitate his Approach, and by convincing the
Loyalists that the Recovery of the Southern Pro
vinces is the unalterable Object of the King's Measures,
excite them to exert themselves for the Accomplish
ment of it. Indeed had we any doubt of the Wisdom
of the present Plan of pushing the War in that
Quarter, and of the vast Importance of the Possession
of Virginia, the Conduct of the Rebels would confirm
Us in Our Judgment, for they could not give stronger
Proofs of the high Opinion they entertain of its Im
portance, than by the great Efforts they made, and
the hazards they ran, in their Attempts to preserve
it; As nothing less than the Apprehension of the
most fatal Consequences to their Cause from its Loss
could have prevailed on them to detach so large a
part of Mr. Washington's best Troops to such a dis
tance, at a time when his Army was so greatly reduced,
and so early in the Season that no Draughts afrom the aM reads of
Militia could be brought to join him, and thereby
expose his Posts on the Hudson River to your Attacks,
when the little Force that remained with him could
not enable him to give them hopes of Relief. blCon-
ceiving therefore so highly2 as I do of the Importance
laN there are very few of the plans of the Comr in chiefs " were
following notes necessary, they the only plans that "could suc-
are so many evd prooffs of what by ceed " had this plan been approved
this time the reader is I believe at first it may be seen that that
convinced campaign could not have ended
2eN In this sort of language unfortunately, according to that
the Cabinet wrote to me, from plan not above i ooo men would
Ross acct of L. Cornwallis brilliant have been in Chesapeak, the rest
Victory of Campden, nor did they at N. York defensive or offensive
change their tone till they found as might happen. Philadelphia
that by his Lordships ill judged probably visited, the french fleet
move into Virginia we were likely at R. Island certainly destroyed,
to be undone then my plans the
59
465
CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
b F rrarfs
Instruction
c F omits
both
of the Southern Provinces, and of the vast Advantages
which must attend the Prosecution of the War upon
the present Plan aof extending Our Conquests from
South3 to North,4*5 it was a great Mortification to me
to find, by your Instructions6 to Major General
Phillips, that it appeared to be your Intention that
only a part7'8 of the Troops he carried with him
should remain in the Chesapeak,9'10 and that °both he
and General Arnold should return to New York,
3cN south underlined.
4aN These Instructions were
among the dispatches Lord Corn-
wallissays are coming to him when
he marched into Virginia, tis pre
sumed if he had received them he
would not as he says have had an
Idea that I had resolved on solid
operation in that Province and
therefore as that was his principal
object in going there it would
have prevented him.
5cN north underlined.
6iN which Instruction Col.
Balf our had in possession long be
fore L. Cornwallis marched into
Virginia, & might & ought to have
sent to his Lordship, & would have
convinced his Lordship as it seems
to have done the Minister that S
H Clinton had no intention of
solid operation in the sickly inimi
cal Prov. of Virginia, in the worst
season.
7frN" rejects my plan for the
Campaign orders me to support
that of L. Cornwallis till 7 & 14
July 8 1 . & then seeing the danger
of L. Cornwallis approve of mine
alas too late, how can Lord Corn
wallis say I had ever intended solid
establishment in Virginia, does
not this prove that I intended
only leaving part of the troops
and mostly to leave garrisons.
a part underlined.
from the instant we got
possession of Georgia this system
had been fixed the very order here
given brakes through it, for N.
Carolina was left behind uncon-
quered, & witht friends we could
neither conquer or keep there were
none in Virginia, much danger in
operations there without a fleet,
no certainty of having one and an
Enemy far more dreaded than
armies I was sure would meet us
in those districts in July, I there
fore had determined to withdw
every thing except a small station
to cover frigates, & carry on
operation during the heats, more
northerly, healthy, safe and plenti
ful in supply, in the midst of
friends &c.
lOajVJ" L. Cornwallis it seems
forgetting all the orders of S H C
some of them given while he was
in the same Camp with S H
Clinton) has asserted that a
certain ecconomical system men
tioned in the yth report originated
with his Lordship : Mr Pitt has
since by desire of S H C read the
letter of the Treasury to S H C
thanking him for having establish*!
it many months before the date of
L C orders for his Lordship's sake
tis pity he had not recollected this
circumstance or the Commission
ers known it when they gave & his
Lordship took the merit of having
established it to himself.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 467
leaving only a sufficient Force to serve for Garrisons
in the Posts they might Establish in Virginia.11 Your
Ideas therefore of the Importance of recovering that
Province appearing to be so different from mine, I
thought it proper to ask the Advice of His Majesty's
other Servants upon the Subject, and their aOpinion
concurring entirely with mine, it has been submitted
to the King, and I am commanded by His Majesty to
acquaint you, that the Recovery of the Southern Pro
vinces, and the Prosecution of the War bby pushing
Our Conquests from South12 to North,13'14 is to be
considered as the Chief15 and principal16 Object17 for
the Employment of all the18 Forces under your Com
mand, which can be spared from the defence of the
Places in His Majesty's Possession, until it is accom
plished;019 but as it might be dangerous to the health of cF st°Ps
the Troops to carry on offensive Operations to the South
of the Delaware in the Summer Months, and that
being the fittest Season for attacking the Enemy's
Posts upon the 'Hudson River, and annoying the
New England Provinces, His Majesty leaves you at
full Liberty to employ the Troops in any offensive
Undertaking to the North6 of the Delaware at such «M
times as you shall judge it improper to continue them
in the Field upon factive Service to the South of it,
nor is it the King's Intention to restrain you from
availing yourself of any favorable Event, or Change
HcN this plan had been ap- 15bN chief underlined.
proved, was again approd alas too ICbN principal underlined.
late, my intention was however 17aN This and his forbidding
to return to Chesapeak in proper me from taking a man from Vir-
season in such force as I could and ginia till that Province was Con-
carried on such operation as would quered (in another letter) would
probably have recovered all the have convinced Lord Cornwallis
provinces bordering on Chesapeak I could not have disposed of his
bay. Corps as I chose, unless I had
12c]Sr south underlined. shewn as good a disposition to
13cN north underlined. disobey the Kings orders as his
14bN the Conquest of Virgi- Lordship had to disobey mine,
nia to be considered as the prin- 18aN all the underlined.
cipal object ; in another place 19eN malgre moi I am forced
L. G. G. says into operation in Virginia.
468 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
of Circumstances, which, may happen at any other
time in the Northern Provinces, it being only His
Majesty's Purpose that the War should be "conducted
upon a permanent and settled Plan bof Conquest,
always*'** to always securing and preserving what has been re
covered, and not by desultory Enterprizes, taking
Possession of Places at one time, and abandoning
them at another, which never can bring the War to a
Conclusion, or encourage the People to avow their
Loyalty, and exert their Endeavours to relieve them
selves from the Tyranny of the Rebel Rulers, and
enable His Majesty to restore to them their con
stitutional Liberty, which is the most fervent Wish
of His Royal Breast.
I daily expect to hear that the German Troops are
sailed from Bremer Lehe, where those which were
embarked at Stade have been ordered to join them,
& the whole to proceed together to New York.
SsSte""* "The three Regiments from Ireland, and the dBritish
British Recruits that went with them, are, I trust well on
e B begins their way by this time to Charles Town, eand as Sir
George Rodney will bring you three more Regi-
ments20'21'22'23 from the Leeward Islands before the
Hurricane Months,24'25 the Augmentation of your
Force, must, I should think, be equal to the utmost
of yOur Wishesf26'27 ; and clearly prove to you how
essential an Object the Recovery of America is to
this Country, & that His Majesty's entire Conviction
The Fleet brought one 12 sail could come to Chesapeak
Regt & took it back and that Lord Rodney was clearly
21bN not a Regt came except of the same opinion.
the 52 which S S Hood took 251N apply to R for confirm-
back with him. ation of this.
22dN only one Regt arrived 26cN in proper time and
in the Fleet and it went back season yes.
with it. 27G ni Sir George ni aucune
23kN those never came de les Regs sont venues nous
24cN" S. S. Hood Confirmd all joindre [neither Sir George nor
this to Adi Graves and I. told us any of the Regiments came to
De Grasse's Fleet was much dis- join us]
abled, & that not above 10 or
b 8MO con
tinue as ntw
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 469
that the most valuable part of it may be recovered in
this Campaign has excited him to make the utmost
Efforts to supply you with a Force fully sufficient for
the purpose/
I am glad to hear you have found means of corres
ponding regularly with General Haldimand, and that
every thing continued quiet during the Winter in
Canada. The private Accounts I have seen of Ethan
Allen's Transactions give me hopes that he is acting
under General Haldimand's Directions, and that
when the Season admits of the General's sending up
a Body of Troops into Vermont, the Inhabitants will
declare for the King, which, with bthe Reduction of
the Southern Provinces, must give the Death Wound
to the Rebellion notwithstanding any Assistance the
french may be able to give it, and if that were the
Case, a general Peace would soon follow, and this
Country be delivered from the most burthensome
and extensive War it was ever engaged in. As so
much therefore depends upon Our Successes in
America, you cannot be surprized that the Eyes of
all the People of England are turned upon you, nor
at the Anxiety with which the King, and all His
Servants wait for Accounts of your Movements, and
as I am most immediately interested of any of them
in your Success, you will, I hope, excuse the Earnest
ness & Frequency of my Exhortations to Decision in
Council, & Activity, Vigour & Perseverance, in Exe
cution of His Majesty's Pleasure, which you are now
fully informed of.28
I have communicated to the Lords of the Ad
miralty your separate Letter of 2Oth February, & I
am surec their Lordships will do every thing in their
power to increase the number of Frigates on the
American Station, and to strengthen the Squadron,
28G laissez moi done faire my lord, do not restrain me
Milord ne me gene pas ne me do not compel me to follow the
force pas de suivre les Plans d' plans of others]
autrui [allow me then to do so,
a M reads
different
b 8MO end
c VEB end
&ca Geo.
Germain
470 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
that the Admiral may at all times have it in
power to furnish Sufficient Convoysb.29
I am6, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
Sir Henry Clinton K.B. GEO : GERMAIN.
29G il ne mas pas fourni nished me ivith any however']
aucan cependant [he has not fur-
9 IB: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, NARRATIVE [8] _p u.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
One of six extracts under this heading Extracts from
Lord George Germain's letters to Sir Henry Clinton :
Begins May 2, 1781.
This extract from No. 91 is shown in margin p 468.
9 IF: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, NARRATIVE [51]^ 56.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of a Letter from Lord George Germain to
Sir Henry Clinton, dated May 2, i 781.
This is two parts of No. 91 as shown in margins pp 465-468.
9 is: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, Fr trans GERMAIN p 34.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extrait d'une lettre du lord George Germain a Sir
Henri Clinton, chevalier du Bain, dateede Whitehall,
le 2 may 1781.
This is two parts of No. 91 as shown in margins pp 464-470.
91 v: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, Draft PA 130/623.
Endorsed Dra*. to Sir Henry Clinton 2d May 1781.
(Secret.) 49 Entd.
Same as No. 91 with variations shewn in margins pp 464-470.
9 IE: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, Copy PA 685/217.
In margin Sir Henry Clinton K.B. (Secret.)
Same as No. 91 with variations shown in margins pp 464-470.
9 in: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, Copy SACKVILLE 11/118.
In margin Sir Henry Clinton K.B. (Secret.)
Same as No. 91 with variations shown in margins pp 464-470.
91 M: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, Extract LANSDOWNE 68/7.
Endorsed Extractof a Letter from Lord George Germain
to Sir Henry Clinton dated Whitehall 2ndMay 1781. In
Ld. G.G.to Sr. H.C. 2d Augst 1781 N°. 78 N°. 49. Ex.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 471
Begins Extract of a Letter from Ld George Germain to
Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated Whitehall 2nd May 1781.
This is two parts of No. 91 as shown in margins pp 464-470.
910: GERMAIN to CLINTON, 2 May 1781, Extract HL No. 49.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Lord George Ger
main to Sir Henry Clinton dated Whitehall 2d May
1781. N°49.
Begins Extract of a Letter from Lord Geo : Germain to
Sir Henry Clinton K.B dated Whitehall 2d May 1 78 1.
This is two parts of No. 91 as shown in margins pp 464-470.
92 BALFOUR TO CLINTON, 6 May 1781, LS RI 19/73.
OBSERVATIONS [97 Ap'x] p 131, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed N° 157 Duplicate. Lieut. Col. Balfour to
Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. Charles Town May 6th 1781.
received on Sunday Morning, May 2Oth 1 78 1, in N° 127
Duplicate. Charles Town May 6th 1781.
aSir, bln my Letters of the 2Oth & C22nd Ultimo, I
had the honor to inform Your Excellency, that our
Post at Weight's Bluff was invested by the Enemy, &
the apprehensions I was, then, under of Camden
being in the same situation.1
I am now to dac quaint you, that the former has
since been surrendered ; the circumstances which led
to this cannot be more fully explained, or with more
honor to himself, than by Lieut : M'Kay's Journal of
the Siege, which, together with the Articles of Capi
tulation, I therefore Enclose for Your Excellency's
Inspection.9
On the 19th of last Month General Greene, with
about fourteen hundred Continentals, & a Body of
Militia, came before Camden, where he continued,
lc had you done Lord Corn- stances, as was your duty. His
wallis the honour also to inform. Lordship would not have deserted
his Lordship of these Circum- you & gone to Virginia.
472 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
changing his Positions, 'till the 2 5th ; in the Morning
of which Lord Rawdon, with the greater part of his
Garrison, upwards of Eight hundred, marched out,
& about ten O'Clock attacked him in his Camp at
Hobkirk's Hill, with that Conduct £ Spirit which
claimed the Victory he gained, tho' long contested &
against superior Numbers, especially of Cavalry, the
Enemy's advantage in which hindered the Pursuit
being continued further than three Miles, & enabled
them to take off their Cannon, which they at first,
preserved by drawing out of the E-oad, into Thickets,
where they escaped the Troops, eager in pursuit of
the flying Rebels.
To this decided Line of Conduct, which has pro
duced the best Effects, Lord Eawdon was induced by
knowing, that General Greene was in expectation of
Reinforcements, which in a day or two must arrive,
& that he had Detached to bring forward his Sup
plies, an Occasion which His Lordship's Abilities &
zeal did not fail to embrace.
The Enemy's Loss on this Occasion is estimated,
by Lord Rawdon, at about five hundred ; his own
appears, from the Returns, as he informs me, two
hundred & twenty, in which number is one Officer
killed & eleven wounded, but not dangerously.
The consequences of this Defeat of the Rebel Army
gave Lord Rawdon an opportunity of drawing from
the Country a Supply of Provisions, of which he was
in want, & obliged Greene immediately to retire to
Rugeley's where he was joined by the Corps under
Brigadier Marrian & Colonel Lee, & from whence he
has since moved, but I have not yet learnt in what
direction.
» B conn™* ajgv to-morrow, I am in hopes, Lord Rawdon will
be Re-inforced by Lieut.-Colonel Watson, with his
Corps & the 64th Regiment.
LoBrdeBiw. But notwithstanding bthis brilliant Success I must
don-8 inform Your Excellency, that the general State of
the Country is most distressing, that the Enemy's
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 473
Parties are every where, the communication, by land,
awith Savannah no longer exists, Colonel Brown is &
Invested at Augusta, & Colonel Cruger in the most
critical Situation at Ninety Six, nearly confined to his
Works, & without any present Command over that
Country.2 Indeed I should betray the Duty I owe
Your Excellency, did I not represent the Defection of
this Province so universal, that I know of no mode
short of depopulation, to retain it.b
This Spirit of Revolt is, in °some measure, kept up
by the many Officers Prisoners of War here ; & I
should therefore think it advisable to remove them,
as well as to make the most striking Examples of
such as, having taken Protection, snatch every occa
sion to rise in arms against us.3
I have the honord to be, Sir, Your Excellency's ?s?gnw<5')w.
Most obedient humble Servant N. BALPOUR.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c &c &c
2c If such the prospects after 3a does not all this inform-
Lord Rawdons Victory what ation which was of course sent to
would it have been had he been Lord Cornwallis turn his atten-
defeated My good Ld Cornwallis tion towards the Carolinas.
reflect ! ! !
926 : BALFOUR to CLINTON, 6 May, OBSERVATIONS [97 Ayfx\p 131.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Copy. — From Lieutenant-colonel Balfour to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated Charles-town, May 6, 1781.
This is two parts of No. 92 as shown in margins pp 471-473.
92F: BALFOUR to CLINTON, 6 May 1781, Extract PA 140-253.
One of two extracts under this endorsement Copies
and Extracts of Letters from Lieu* Colonel Balfour
to H. E. Sir H. Clinton Received 2Oh May In Sir
Henry Clintons N° 127°.
With this general heading Extracts of Letters from
Lieu* Colonel Balfour to His Excell^ Sir H. Clinton
K.B. Received the 2Oth of May 1781
Begins May 6th
Same as No. 92 with variations ftjtown in margins pp 471-473.
*-aaGQQM>y*~~
60
474 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
93 CLINTON TO PHILLIPS, n May [1781], ANSWER [in]_p 87.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general Phillips,
dated May 1 1 .
[Received by Earl Cornwallis at Petersburg, May 24.]
Dear Phillips, I was in hopes that the fleet
would have sailed long since, but although the
Admiral dates his letter the icth,1 off Sandy Hook,
I fear he is still within.2'3
Report says that the French had not sailed from
Rhode-Island a few days ago, they might, however,
have sailed yesterday : the only news we have is a
riot at Philadelphia, and all paper-money refused in
payment ; it works finely.
No news from Lord Cornwallis since his letter of
the loth of April.
Washington some days since called in Burgoyne ;
by a letter from him this day, that is countermanded
or suspended ; their councils seem a little unsettled,
— it is reported and believed, that the French troops
are to join Washington, and are now on their
route. I am, &c. H. CLINTON.
Lord Chewton sailed three days since for Lord
Cornwallis.
Id loth, underlined. purpose except to occasion alter-
2a tis really very illiberal in cation between the Admiral and
Lord Cornwallis thus to publish I.
these private letters, to what 3d within underlined.
94 CLINTON TO GERMAIN, 20 May 1781, LS PA 140/247.
NARRATIVE [109]^ 58, with Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Endorsed New York, 2Oth May 1781. Sir Henry
aNo.79F:p Clinton N° 127. E/ 23d June, i Inclosurea. Entd.
^No.92F:j» N° 127. New York May 2Oth 1781
^seeaisoa. bMy Lord, The Packet being still detained at
*v begins Sandy Hook by contrary Winds, affords me an
opportunity of transmitting to Your Lordship,
Extracts of some Letters which I have this instant
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 475
received from Lieu* Colonel Balfour, and will inform
Your Lordship of Lord Rawdon's having attacked
the Rebel Corps under General Green, on the 25th
Ultimo, and gained a considerable advantage.
aBut should Lord Cornwallis persist in his intention
of joining Major General Phillips, as mentioned in
his bLordship's Letter to that General Officer, ca Copy
n -. . .-, -,. , -.->.. i-ii-ii Lordships
of which was inclosed in my last Dispatch, 1 shall be c B omits to
, U • 1 J? I«o^l
under some apprehensions1 lor every part of South
Carolina,2 except Charlestown,3'4-5 and even for
Georgia, unless the Speedy arrival of the Reinforce
ment6 expected from Europe, may enable the Officer
Commanding in South Carolina, to take Post in force
in some healthy Station in the back Country*. 7*8
I have the honor to be With the greatest Respect
Your Lordship's Most obedient and Most humble Ser
vant H. CLINTON.
Right Honble Lord George Germain.
la I could have no apprehen- 4c Charles-town underlined.
sions for Charles Town then as I 5i nor can I doubt as it was
did not know that part of the his duty that he reported this to
works had been thrown down Lord Cornwallis also before his
and the Place open and exposed Lordship marched into Virginia,
and L. Cornwallis had assured 6c 1500.
me it was safe. Tarlton reports 7b L. C. himself expects to
it open and exposed in January. lose every thing out of C. Town.
Col. Balfour to L. Corn, the 6th Balfour in its open and dismantled
of April by Maj Benson, & Lord state trembles for that, L. C.
Rawdon to L. Cornwallis 2oth corps risked much by his own
may. how his Lordp came to acct & Phillips was certainly
think it so safe on the 23^ April exposed at Petersberg.
I am at a loss to guess. 8c I did not then know what
2c South Carolina underlined. I now do. that C. Town was open
Sfiklmnopqrs read Balf ours letter when Lord Corwallis marched into
to Lord Rawdon in may, & then see Virginia,
what risk even Charles Town run.
946: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 20 May 1781, NARRATIVE [109] p 58.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
One of two extracts under this heading Extracts from
Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord George Germain,
May 20, i 781.
This extract from No. 94 is shown in margin p 475.
accounts
476 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
94F: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 20 May 1781, Copy PA 309/122.
In margin New York 2Oth May 1781. Sir Henry
Clinton N°. 127. Rd. 23d June.
Mem. at end Inclosure. Copies & Extracts of Letters
from IA Colonel Balfour to Sir Henry Clinton.
Same as No. 94 with variations shown in margins pp 474-475.
95 CORNWALUS TO CLINTON, 20 May 1781, LS RI 19/86.
ANSWER [64] p 86.
With Clintoris MS. Notes from ANSWER and TARLETON.
Endorsed Duplicate. Earl Cornwallis to Sir H.
Clinton K.B. Petersburg 2Oth May 1781. N° 162.
"Duplicate Peter sburgh 2Oth May 1781.
bSir, You will easily conceive how sensible an
Affliction it was to me, on entering this province, to
receive an account of the death of my friend General
Phillips, whose loss, I cannot sufficiently lament,
from personal or publick considerations.
The Corps which I brought from North Carolina,
arrived here this morning. The information con
veyed by your Excellency to General Arnold, relative
to the probable movements of the French Armament,1
restrains me at present, from any material offensive
operations ; but as soon as I can hear any satisfactory
caccount of the two Fleets, I will endeavour to make
the best use in my power, of the Troops under my
command.2 General Arnold being of opinion, that
Portsmouth, with its present Garrison, is secure
against a Coup de main ; I would wish to avoid
making a precipitate movement towards that place,
without absolute necessity, because it would lessen
our reputation in this province,3 but I have sent to
assure the Commanding Officer, that I will do every
IT and which he might have should have prevented his going
received at Willmington had Col. into Virginia.
Balfour so pleased, and would have 3aA I fear my good Lord you
prevented his coming into Virginia. have already lost it by going
2aA the same uncertainty there at such a season.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 477
thing I can, to relieve him, in case the French should
attack the post.a
La Fayette is at Wilton, on the other side of James
River, not far from Richmond. I have not heard
that Wayne has yet joined him.
It is with infinite satisfaction that I inclose to
your Excellency, copies of two Letters from Lord
Rawdon, which bhave relieved me from the most
cruel anxieties. His Lordship's great abilities,
courage, & firmness of mind, cannot be sufficiently
admired and applauded.0 cBFn«io»
There is now great reason to hope that we shall
meet with no serious misfortune in that province ; if
however Gen1 Greene should persevere in carrying
on offensive Operations against it, we must, I think,
abandon Camden, & probably Ninety-six, and limit
our defence to the Congaree & the Santee ; this will
donly be giving up two bad posts, which it is difficult dBFEmid
1 72 • • '^' £ 0.1 be only
to supply with provisions, & quitting a part ot the
Country, which for some months past, we have not
really possessed.
I have taken every means to inform Major Craig,
of my having passed the Roanoke, on which event, it
was previously concerted between us, that he should
fall down to Bald Head,4 & from thence proceed to
Charles-town, as soon as Transports arrive to carry
him.6 e 8 ends J'ai
The Legion being in the utmost distress, for want d;etre &c.
of Arms, Clothing, Boots, & indeed appointments of cSwams
all kinds, I must beg that your Excellency will be
pleased to direct the Inspector General, to forward a
Supply of every article with the greatest dispatch.
•[ have the honour to beg, with great respect, Sir, fys con-
Tour most obedient & most humble Servant rBF«Mi*e
Cornwallis
hCORNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. &c &c &c
4aA so far from falling back, after Lord Cornwallis' surrender,
major Craig kept the Post long
478 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTEOVEESY
956: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 20 May 1781, ANSWER [64]^ 86.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated
Petersburgh, in Virginia, 2Oth May, 1781.
Same as No. 95 with variations shown in margins pp 476-477.
95F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 20 May 1781, TARLETON^ 340.
With Clinton's Manuscript Note.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated
Petersburg, in Virginia, 2Oth May, 1781.
/Same as No. 95 with variations shown in margins pp 476-477.
953: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 20 May 1781, Fr trans GERMAIN p 120.
Copie d'une lettre du comte Cornwallis, a Sir Henri
Clinton, chevalier du Bain, Petersburg?! le 2Omai 1781.
Same as No. 95 with variations shown in margins pp 476-477.
95V : CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 20 May 1781, Copy PA 140/319.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton
K.B. Petersburg 2Oth May 1781. In Sir H^
• Me 11.374 Clinton's (N° 130) of 9 June 1781.* (i) 62. E.
This extract from No. 95 is shown in margins pp 476-477.
95E: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 20 May 1781, Copy HL No 62.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton KB Petersburg 2Oth May 1781. Transmitted
to Ld Geo. Germain In Sir H^ Clinton's of 9th June
1781 (i)K/ 12th July N° 62
This extract from No. 95 is shown in margins pp 476-477.
96 CLINTON TO GERMAIN, 22 May 1781, LS PA 140/259.
NARRATIVE [109]^ 58, with Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Endorsed New York 22d May 1781 Sir Henry
J42°380M: Clinton N° 128 R/23d June 3 Inclosuresa Entd.
^ NO. sis: bNo I2g. New York May 22d 1781
Since dthe closing my Dispatch N°
127, I have received, by way of Charles Town, two
Letters from Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, of
a S reads
should
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 479
which I have the Honor to inclose Copies for Your
Lordship's Information. And as his Lordship has
transmitted to me Copies of his Dispatches to your
Lordship, I think it right also to inclose one of a
Letter he wrote to You on the 23d Ultimo, lest any
Accident amay delay the Arrival of the Original.
^Notwithstanding the Purport of these Letters, I am
yet in Hopes (from Lord CornwallisV to me of the
24h) that his Lordship will not persist in attempting a
Junction with Major General Phillips ; as I am appre
hensive it may be attended with some Risk, not only
to his own Corps, but to that1 of General Phillips,2
should that General Officer not have been joined in
Time by the Reinforcement3 I have sent him. And I
even have my Doubts whether his Lordships IVJarch
to the Northward will draw after him (as he expects)
the Rebel General Green,4 who I fear will endeavor
either to invest Camden, or by dplacing himself between
that Place & Charlestown render Lord Rawdon's
Situation very hazardous.65 fl B runs on
I am therefore induced to flatter myself that Lord
Cornwallis, when he hears of Lord Rawdon's Success
against Green, will rather march into South Carolina,
either by the direct Route of Cross Creek, and
Camden, or by that of Georgetown,6 or even by
Embarkation (tho' he should be obliged to leave his
Cavalry7 behind untill Vessels can be sent for them)
than attempt the proposed Junction with General
Phillips in the Way he mentions8 ; which, I must
freely own, appears to me, for the Reasons I have
stated, not only dangerous to both Corps in the
lc that underlined. 6c there is no doubt he might
2c General Phillips underlined. have marched the whole to S,
3c reinforcement underlined. Carolina by way of Wagamaw.
4fiklmnopqrs It turned out ex- 7c cavalry underlined.
actly so. 8b tis presumed this letter
5b it did not but if it had it convinced L. G. G. of the folly
might have been to his or P. dis- of this Virg. expedition, & occa-
traction he marched against sioned his letters of 7 & 14
Campden, but was beat July. page.
480 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
Attempt, but replete with the worst Consequences to
our Southern Possessions, in their present State.b9
I nave tne Honor to be0 With the greatest Respect,
ci?n?onH' Your Lordship's Most Obedient & Most humble Ser-
?4ne1)&H vant H CLINTON
Right Honble Lord George Germain
9c the above letter, with turned the Cabinet and induced
other Information & opinions them to reapprove my Plan alas
that L. C. Plan was dangerous too late.
966: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 22 May 1781, NARRATIVE [109] p 58.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
One of two extracts under this heading Extracts from
Sir Henry Clinton's Letters to Lord George Germain,
May 22.
This extract from No. 96 is shown in margins pp 479-480.
96F: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 22 May 1781, Copy PA 309/123.
In margin New York 22d May 1781. Sir Henry
Clinton N° 128. Rd 23d June.
Mem. at end Inclosures N° i Copy of a Dispatch N°
1 1 from Earl Cornwallis to Lord George Germain.
23d Ap1 1781. 2. Copy of a Letter from Earl Corn
wallis to Sir Henry Clinton 23d Ap1 1781. 3. Copy
of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clin
ton 24th Ap1 1781.
Same as No. 96 with variations shown in margins pp 478-480.
963: CLINTON to GERMAIN, 22 May 1781, Copy RI 22/106.
Same as No. 96 with variations shown in margins pp 478-480.
97 RAWDON TO CORNWALLIS, 24 May 1781, Copy PA 140/427.
OBSERVATIONS [91 Ap'x'] ^131, with Clinton's MS. Notes.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lord Rawdon to
Lieut General the Earl Cornwallis dated, Camp at
Monks Corner 2 4th May 1781. recd at New York by
Sir H. C. the 26th June 1> the Warwick In Sir
a n« ii.s76 Henry Clintons N° 131*. 2.
^begins ^^ Camp ^ Monkg Comer ^th May ^g^
My Lord, °The Situation of Affairs in this Pro
vince has made me judge it necessary for a Time, to
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 481
withdraw my Force from the Back Country, and to
assemble what Troops I can collect at this Point. I
hope a recital of the Circumstances which have led
to this determination, will satisfy your Lordship as to
the Expediency of the Measure.
After the Action aon the 25th April, (an account of
which I had the honor of transmitting to your Lord
ship) Major General Greene remained for some days
behind the farthest Branch of Granny's-Quarter
Creek.b
A second Attempt upon his Army could not in that
Situation be undertaken upon the Principles which
advised the former. In the first instance I made so
short an Excursion from my Works that I could
venture without Hazard to leave them very slightly
guarded ; and I had the Confidence that had fortune
proved unfavorable, we should easily have made good
our Retreat, and our loss in all probability would not
have disabled us from the further Defence of the
Place. To get at General Greene in his retired
Situation, I must have made a very extensive Circuit
in order to head the Creek ; which wou'd have
presented to him the fairest Opportunity of slipping
by me to Carnden : And he was still so superior
to me in numbers, that had I left such a Garrison at
my Post as might enable it to stand an Assault, my
Force in the Field would have been totally unequal
to Cope with the Enemv's Army. I had much to
hope from the Arrival of Reinforcement to me ; and
little to fear from any probable Addition to my ments
Antagonists Force.
Whilst upon that Principle I waited for my
expected Succours, Gen1 Greene retired from our
Front, and crossing the Wateree took a position
behind Twenty five Mile Creek. On the 7th of May,
Lieu1 Colonel Watson joined me with his Detach
ment, much reduced in Number, thro' Casualties,
Sickness and a Reinforcement which he had left to
strengthen the Garrison at Georgetown. dHe had
61
482 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
crossed the Santee near its Mouth & had recrossed it
a s stops a ^tle below the Entrance of the Congaree.a
By him I received the unwelcome intelligence that
the whole interior Country had revolted, and that
Marion & Lee (after reducing a small Post where
Lieu* Co1 Watson kept his Baggage at Wright's
Bluff), had crossed the Santee to support the Insur
gents upon the same Night which he passed it to join
me. Information reached me the same day, that the
Post at Motte's House near the Mouth of the Congaree
was invested and Batteries opened against it. I had
beenlong sensible of the necessity for my retiring within
the Santee ; but whilst Lee and Marion were in a
Situation to retard my March in front, at the same
Time that my Rear was exposed to Greene, I con
ceived it impracticable without the disgrace of
abandoning my Stores and particularly my Wounded
bv runs on ^ Camden.b
The Measure even now could only be effected at
Neilson's Ferry which was Sixty Miles from me.
I determined to undertake it immediately, but I
thought it first requisite to attempt reaping some Ad
vantage from the additional Strength which I had
received.
cQn tlie Nignt Qf the ^h j crosse(i the Wateree at
Camden Ferry, proposing to turn the Flank and attack
the Rear of Greene's Army, where the Ground was
not strong, tho' it was very much so in Front.
The Troops had scarcely crossed the River when I
received Notice that Greene had moved early in the
Evening, upon getting Hntimation of my being rein
forced. I followed him by the direct Road, & found
him posted behind Sawney's Creek.
Having driven in his Picquets, I examined every
point of his Situation. I found it every where so
strong, that I could not hope to force it without
suffering such Loss, as must have crippled my Force
for any future Enterprize, and the retreat lay so open
for himj e^^ j cou[& not ^Q^e tnat Victory would
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 483
give us any Advantage sufficiently decisive to counter
balance the Loss.
The Creek (tho' slightly marked in the Maps) runs
very high into the Country. Had I attempted to
get round him he would have evaded me with ease ;
for as his Numbers still exceeded mine, I could not
separate my force to fix him in any point, and Time
(at this Juncture most important to me) would have
been thus unprofitably wasted. I therefore returned
to Camden the same Afternoon, after having in vain
attempted to decoy the Enemy into Action by affect
ing to conceal our Ketreat.
On the 9th 1 published to the Troops and to the
Militia my design of evacuating Camden, offering to
such of the latter as chose to accompany me, every
Assistance that we could afford them. During the
ensuing Night I sent off all our Baggage Sec under
a strong Escort and destroyed the Works, remaining
at Camden with the rest of the Troops till 10 o'Clock
the next day in order to cover the March.
On the Night of the 13th I began to pass the River
at aNeilson's Ferry, & by the Evening of the 14th, every
Thing was safely across. Some mounted Militia had
attempted to harrass our Rear Guard on the March,
but a party of them having fallen into an Ambuscade,
the rest of them gave us no further Trouble. We
brought off all the Sick & Wounded excepting about
thirty, who were too ill to be moved ; and for them I
left an equal Number of Continental Prisoners in Ex
change. We brought off all the Stores of any kind
of Value, destroying the rest ; and we brought off, not
only the Militia who had been with us bin Camden, b B
but also all the well affected Neighbours on our Route
together with the Wives, Children, Negroes and Bag
gage of almost all of them.
My first News upon landing at °Neilson's was that
the Post at Motte's House had fallen. It was a
simple Redoubt, & had been attacked formally by
Sap. Lieu11 McPherson had maintained it gallantly,
484 CLINTON-COENWALLIS CONTROVEESY
till the House in the Centre of it was set in Flames
by fire Arrows, which obliged his Men to throw
&s stops themselves into the Ditch, & surrender at discretion* ;
the Stroke was heavy upon me, as all the Provisions
had been forwarded from Neilsons to that Post, for
the Supply of Camden.
bBFfcgrfn bLieu* Col1 Balfour was so good as to meet me at
NdfoiT* °Neilsons. He took this Measure that he might re
present his Circumstances to me. He stated that the
j^Fttwrta Revolt was universal, dthat, from the little reason to
inBstaSs to apprehend this serious invasion* ethe old Works of
(6 lines) Charlestown had been in part le veiled1' 2<3 to make
way for new Ones, which were not yet constructed,
^hat fn|s Qarrisori was inadequate to oppose any Force
of consequence, and that the Disaffection of the
Towns People shewed itself in a thousand Instances.
I agreed with him in the Conclusion to be drawn
from hhence, that any Misfortune happening to my
Corps might entail the Loss of the Pro vince1.4'5'6 kBut
as Major McArthur had joined me with near 300
Foot and 80 Dragoons, I conceived I might without
hazarding too far, endeavour to check the Enemy's
Operations on the Congaree. On the 14th at Night
[From Observations] It is presumable that Colonel Balfour
likewise communicated this material information to Lord Cornwallis.
lc N.B. it was done by L. C. was sent to your Lordship but
order in Janry 8 1 . still alas without Effect.
2d this also C. Balfour of 5c The same conclusion L.
course told Lord Cornwallis if so Cornwallis must have drawn on
how could his Lordship say that receiving the above information,
C. Town was in no immediate he therefore disobey'd orders in
danger page 94. not going to C. Town imme-
3a By Tarlton. It appears diately.
that such had been the exposed 6c what Col. Balfour reported
state of C. Town from January to Lord Rawdon it was his duty
to 24th May, there cannot be the & there can be no doubt but he
least doubt but that the Com- had reported to Lord Cornwallis ;
mandant Col. Balfour had re- how then could his Lordship after
ported this to Lord Cornwallis as such report say that Charles
well as to Lord Rawdon if he did Town was in no danger, or
not he is highly Reprehensible. neglect going there by Waggamaw
4a This information I must to secure it.
suppose in Justice to Col. Balfour
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 485
I marched from aNeilsons and on the Evening of the
15th I reached the Point, where the Roads from
b(Jongaree & McCoards Ferry unite. Various Infor-
mation was brought to me thither °by Spies whom I
had detached, that Greene had passed the Congaree
at McCord's Ferry and had pushed down the Orange-
burgh Road. The Accounts, tho' none of them posi
tive or singly satisfactory, corresponded so much that
I was led to believe them, and the matter was of such
moment that it would not admit of my pausing for
more certain Information ; therefore after giving the
Troops a little Rest I moved back to Eutaws the same
Night, but hearing nothing there I pursued my March
hither.d d 8 st°Ps
I had been five Days within the Santee before a
single Man of the Country came near me. My first
Intelligence on this Ground was that it had been only
Sumpter with his Corps who had marched to Orange-
burgh, & that Greene had marched to Congarees,
when the Post, (unable to oppose such Force) had
been surrendered to him on the 14th.
I dispatched Emissaries immediately to Ninety Six,
directing Lieu* Co1 Cruger to retire to Augusta, and
I desired Lieu1 Col1 Balfour to forward the same
Order by different Routes.
Should Lieu' Col1 Cruger not have received this
Order I fear his Situation will be dangerous. I did
not think it practicable to assist him, without run
ning hazards which I judged the general State of the
Province would not allow. Besides I had no deposit
of Provisions left on the Frontier, and as to the Ex
pectation of gleaning them as I advanced in a wasted
country and surrounded as I should have been by a
swarm of Light Troops and mounted Militia ; I con
ceived that my whole Force must have been so em
ployed in procuring its daily Subsistence, that little
else could have been effected with it. flS continues
eBy my present position I cover those Districts from
which Charles Town draws its gprincipal Supplies ; I
486 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
am in readiness to improve any favorable Occurrence,
* s wits i and »j guard against any untoward Event.
It is a secondary but not a trifling advantage, that
I have been able to supply the Troops with Neces
saries ; for the want of which (occasioned by the long
Interruption of our bCommuni cations) they suffered
serious Distress.
I am using every Effort to augment our Cavalry ; in
r * *° n°Pes that ^e Arrival of some force 'which may put
Charles Town out of Danger, will speedily enable us
as ends to adopt a more active Conduct.4
But the plundering parties of the Enemy have so
stripped the Country of Horses, and there is such
difficulty in getting Swords and other Appointments
made at Charlestown, that I get on but slowly in this
undertaking.
I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your
Lordships Most obedient & affectionate Servant
Signed RAWDON.
Lieu* General Earl Cornwallis &c. &c. &c.e
97 B: RAWDON to CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [91 Ap'x~\ _p 131.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of a letter from Lord Rawdon to Lord Corn
wallis, May 24, 1781.
This extract from No. 97 is shown in margin p 484.
97F: RAWDON to CORNWALLIS, 24 May 1781, TARLETON^ 328.
Extract. From Lord Rawdon to Earl Cornwallis.
dated May 24, 1781.
This extract from No. 97 is shown in margin p 484.
978: RAWDON to CORNWALLIS, 24 May 1781, TARLETON^) 475.
Extract of a letter from Lord Rawdon to Earl Corn
wallis, dated camp at Monk's corner, May 24, 1781.
This is four parts of No. 97 as shown in margins pp 480-486.
97V : RAWDON to CORNWALLIS, 24 May 1781, Copy PA 606/179.
Endorsed Copy of a Letter from Lord Rawdon to
Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis May 24th 1781.
Same as No. 97 with variations shown in margins pp 480-406.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 487
98 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 26 May 1781, ANSWER [79] p 86.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Byrd's
Plantation, James River, May 26, 1781.
Sir, I have consented to the request of Brigadier-
general Arnold to go to New York ; he conceives
that your Excellency wishes him to attend you there,
and his present indisposition renders him unequal to
the fatigue of service. He will represent the horrid
enormities which are committed by our privateers in
Chesapeak-bay ; and I must join my earnest wish,
that some remedy may be applied to an evil which is
so very prejudicial to his Majesty's service.
I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS.
99 CORNWALLIS TO CLINTON, 26 May 1781, LS m 19/94.
ANSWER [80] ^> 87, OBSERVATIONS [105 Ap'x] p 131, REPLY [13]
p 143 and [76] _p 170, with Clinton's MS* Notes from each,
also from GERMAIN.
Endorsed Duplicate. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry
Clinton KB. Byrd's Plantation North of James River
26Lh May 1781. Received by the Charon Man of
War. N° 167.
'Duplicate bByrd's Plantation, North of
James River. 26 May ijSi.1'2 bM
cSir. The Reinforcement is safely arrived in James c BBN
River, and I opened all your dispatches to poor
Phillips, marked *0n His Majesty's Service6.3'4"
fl hope that your Excellency has received my Letters
from Wilmington, and one of the 2Oth from Peters-
burgh ; as the latter went by an uncertain convey
ance, I send a duplicate of it.
gThe arrival of the reinforcement, has made me
easy about Portsmouth, for the present, I have sent
General Leslie thither5'6 with the 1 7th Reg1 and the
1R read in H. of Lords the 4dA These my good Lord
whole of it. you did right to publish but why
2R why not the whole of this that of the 30 April " Secret fy
letter most private" page 105. ! ! !
3a A not only such my good Lord 5cO with private orders to
but private, & published them also, prepare to evacuate
E begins
N continues
488 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
a B omit* two Battalions of Anspach, keeping the 43d aRegiment
Regiment . i ,1 * b
b BE run on With the Army.
I shall now proceed to dislodge La Fayette from
Richmond, and with my light Troops to destroy any
c v reads 0Magazines or Stores in the Neighbourhood, which may
have been collected, either for his use or dfor General
Greene's Army, From thence I purpose to move to the
Neck at Williamsburgh, which is represented as healthy,
& where some subsistence may be procured, and keep
myself unengaged from operations, which might in
terfere7 with your plan for the Campaign,8'9'10'11
untill I have the Satisfaction of hearing from you. I
hope I shall then have an opportunity to receive
better information, than has hitherto been in my
power to procure, relative to a proper harbour, &
place of Arms : At present I am inclined12 to think
well13'14 of York615'16 : The objections to Portsmouth
are, that it cannot be made strong, without an Army
to defend it, that it is remarkably unhealthy, and can
give no protection to a Ship of the Line. Wayne
has not yet joined La Fayette, nor can I positively
f o <mu<* he learn where Tie is, gnor what is his force. Greene's
gFONTread .
°r Cavalry are said to be coming this way, but I have
no certain accounts of it.h
_ Your Excellency desires kGenerals Phillips & Arnold
MsSSro *° Slve y°u ^elr ^pinion mrelative to Mr I 'Alexander's
opinions proposal ; As General Arnold goes to New York by
£pr°po?a* tne ^rs^ sa^e conveyance, you will have an opportunity
n F leaves
blank 6cQ thither underlined. & when he receives my instruc-
7dQ might interfere underlined, tions does not pay the least
8dQ your to campaign under- attention to them —
lined. 12G je suis port6 underlined.
9aA I wish this had occurred 13cQ think well underlined.
to you before you marched into 14G bien penser de York
Virginia underlined.
lOdQ It will be observed that 15dA does not this imply that
his Lordship had already broke York has not these defects.
in upon my plan by coming into 16aO it will be observed that
Vira. & advising the Cabinet His lordship from the information
to adopt solid operation there — he had received thought well of
HbO keeps himself disengaged York.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 489
of hearing his sentiments in person ; a Experience has
made me less sanguine, and more Arrangements seem to Ariiold
to me necessary, for bso important an expedition, than
cappear to occur to General Arnold.*
Mr * Alexander's conversations bear too fstrong a
resemblance to those of the emissaries from North Ua£knot
Carolina, to give me much confidence, and from the
experience I have had, ands dangers I have under-
gone, one maxim appears to me to be absolutely
necessary for the safe & honourable conduct of this
War, which is, that we should have as few posts as
possible, & that wherever the King's Troops are, they
should be in respectable force17 ; By the vigorous
exertions of the present Governors of America, large
Bodies of men are soon collected, and I have too
often observed, that when a Storm threatens, our
friends disappear.11
In regard to taking possession of Philadelphia by
an incursion,18 (even if practicable) without an inten
tion of keeping or burning it, (neither of which appear
to be adviseable) I should apprehend, it would do
more harm than good to the cause of Britain.
*I shall take the liberty of repeating, that if offen- IOsj?£!SE
sive War is intended, Virginia appears to me, kto be
the only Province, in which it can be carried on, and l
in which there is a Stake ; But to reduce the Province
& keep possession of the Country, a considerable
Army would be necessary, for with a small force, the
business would probably terminate unfavourably, tho'
the beginning might be successfull.1 In mcase it is
thought expedient, & a proper Army for the attempt
can be nformed, °I hope your Excellency will do me found"**
the justice to believe, that I neither pwish nor expect
to have the command of it, leaving you at New
York on the defensive, such sentiments are so far
from my heart, that I can with great truth assure
17dA why then force new then at Philadelphia that Infant
operation in Virginia Bank, & Burgoynes Army.
18aA all the Rebel Trade lay
62
parts
d M
that
490 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
you, that few things could give me greater pleasure,
than being relieved by your presence, from a situa
tion of so much anxiety & responsibility.
&-^y my Letter of the b2Oth, your Excellency will
gist observe, that instead of thinking it possible to do any
thing in North Carolina,19 I am of opinion that it
is doubtfull, whether we can keep the posts in the
back °part of South Carolina, and I believed I have
stated in former letters, the infinite difficulty of pro
tecting a frontier of three hundred miles, against a
persevering Enemy, in a country where we have no
water communication, and where few of the Inhabi-
« TST ends tants are active or usefull friends.6
In enumerating the Corps employed in the southern
district, Your Excellency will recollect that they are
all very weak, and that some of the British as well as
provincial Eegiments, retain nothing but the Name.
f B new f fOur weakness at Guildford w as not owing to any de-
g s italic* to tachment, unless that with the Baggage/ but to hour
losses by action, Sickness20'21'22'23'24 i&ca during the
Winter's Campaign.k
end I saw with concern, that You thought Lieu* Colonel
Balfour had acted injudiciously, in sending home
some Transports ; that business has, I apprehend,
been misrepresented by persons, interested in retain
ing rotten Vessels in the Service of Government ;
The circumstances I do not now perfectly recollect,
but I believe you will find, that the Ships sent
home, were either Victuallers, which the Treasury
desired in the strongest manner, or Transports, which
were so exceedingly bad, that they could never have
gone out with safety, after a stay of three months in
Charlestown harbour ; Whatever was ]done in it, was
19aA all this should have been march he passed 3300. he had
known before you forced open in 1300 at Guildford.
N. Carolina. 23cQ among the &cs desertion
20aA & you may add desertion. marauders killed by friends &
21dA desertion &c. &c. foes.
22bA by desertion, maurauding 24G et desertions [and deser-
&« &c in that same Tartar tions]
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 491
with my approbation at the time, appearing evidently
for the good of the Service, I therefore think it my
duty to exculpate Lieu* Colonel Balfour, whom I have
found on all occasions, a most zealous, intelligent, and
deserving Officer.
Colonel Robinson's Corps is so weak & deserts so
fast, that at the recommendation of General Arnold,
I have consented that it shall return in the Transports
to New York.
I have the honour to be* with bgreat respect Sir
Your most obedient & most humble Servant
CORNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton KB &ca &ca &ca°
998: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, ANSWER [80] p 87.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Byrd's
Plantation, North of James River, 26th of May, 1781.
Same as No. 99 with variations shown in margins pp 487-491.
99F: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, OBSERVATIONS [105 Ap'x\p 131.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
K.B. dated Bird's Plantation, North of James-river,
May 26, 1781.
This extract from No. 99 is shown in margins pp 487-491.
993: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, REPLY [13] p 143.
This is two parts of No. 99 as shown in margins pp 488-490.
997: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, REPLY [76] p 170.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwaliis to Sir Henry
Clinton, K.B. dated at Bird's Plantation, North of
James River, 26th May, 1781.
This extract from No. 99 is shown in margins pp 487-488.
99E: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, TARLETONJD 343.
Copy. From Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
K.B. dated Byrd's plantation, north of James river,
26th of May, 1781.
This extract from No. 99 is shown in margins pp 487-488.
492 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
9 QR : CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 2 6 May 1 7 8 1 , Fr trans GERMAIN ^122.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extrait d'une lettre du comte Cornwallis a Sir Henri
Clinton, chevalier du Bain, datee de la plantation de
Byrd, au nord de la riviere de James, le 26 mai 1781.
This is two parts of No. 99 as shown in margins pp 487-490.
9911: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May, Copy LANSDOWNE 68/19.
One of eight letters under this endorsement Copies of
Letters between Sir H> Clinton Earl Cornwallis L
Gen1. Phillips relative to the Operations of the
Southern army April May June 1781.
Same as No. 99 with variations shown in margins pp 487-491.
990: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, Extract PA 140/327.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis to
Sir Henry Clinton KB dated at Byrd's Plantation
North of James River 26th May 1781. In Sir H?
.374 Clinton's (N° T3°) of 9 June 1781-* .(3-) 64- E.
This extract from No. 99 is shown in margins pp 487-490.
99N: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, Extract PA 140/568.
One of twelve extracts under this endorsement Extracts
from the Correspondence between Sir Henry Clinton
and Earl Cornwallis on the Subject of Operations in
the Chesapeak & an Expedition against Philadelphia.
378 ( T * ) ^n ^r Henry Clinton's Letter of the 1 3th July.b 90.
With this general heading Extracts from the Corres
pondence between Sir Henry Clinton and Earl Corn
wallis on the Subject of Operations in the Chesapeak
and an Expedition against Philadelphia &ce.
Begins Extract. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,
dated Byrds Plantation North of James River 26th
May 1781 Received 9th June.
This is two parts of No. 99 as shown in margins pp 487-490.
991: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1781, Extract PA 589/136.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis
to Sir H : Clinton dated at Byrd's Plantation North
of James River 26th May 1781.
This extract from No. 99 is shown in margins pp 487-490.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 493
990: CORNWALLIS to CLINTON, 26 May 1 781, Extract HL No 64.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Extract of a Letter from Earl Cornwallis
to Sir Henry Clinton K.B. dated at Byrd's Planta
tion North of James River 26th May 1781. Trans
mitted to Ld Geo : Germain In Sir H^ Clinton's of 9th
June 1781 (3). E/ 12th July N° 64.
This is two parts of No. 99 as shoivn in margins pp 487-490.
100 CLINTON TO CORNWALLIS, 29 May 1781, ANSWER [67] p 86.
ANSWER [6 7]^ 86, OBSERVATIONS [99 Ap'x'] p 131, with Clinton's
Manuscript Notes from each.
Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated aNew-
York, May 29th, 1781.
b[Received July 12, i78i,fromLieut.Col.Macpherson.]
cMy Lord, XI had the honour of writing to your ° B
Lordship by Lord Chewton, who sailed from hence
in the Eichmond the 4th instant, to join you at Wil
mington ; but your Lordship's departure from thence
will have prevented his meeting you there, and I
hope he has since then joined you in the Chesapeak.
dWhen I first heard of your Lordship's retreat from
Cross Creek to Wilmington,2 I confess that I was in
hopes6 you had reason to consider Greene so totally
fhors de combat as to be perfectly at ease for Lord \*ficnsoi
Eawdon's safety. gAnd after your arrival at Wil-
mington I flattered myself that, if any change of ton
circumstances should make it necessary, you could
always have been able to march to the Walkamaw,
where I imagined vessels might haveh passed you over
to George-town. I cannot therefore conceal from paas
your Lordship the apprehensions I felt on reading
your letter to me of the 24th ult. wherein you 'in-
form me of the critical situation which you supposed
the Carolinas to be in, and that you should probably
IcA Those who read this letter 2cO Balfour recommended this
will probably be of opinion that and prepared for his passage.
aBFVEnm
494 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
attempt to effect a junction with Major-general
Lord Rawdon's officer-like and spirited exertions,
in taking advantage of Greene's having detached
from his army, have indeed eased me of my appre
hensions for the present. But in the disordered state
of Carolina and Georgia, as represented to me by
Lieutenant-colonel Balfour,3 I shall dread what may
be the consequence of your Lordship's move, unless
a reinforcement arrives very soon in South Carolina,
and such instructions are sent to the officer command
ing there, as may induce him to exert himself in
b v reads to restoring tranquillity bin that province at least. These
I make no doubt your Lordship has already sent to
mea7ure Lord Rawdon, and that every "necessary measure for
necessary this purpose will be taken by his Lordship in con-
d B stops sequence of them, should he remain in the command.d
But as there are many officers ein the regiments com
jng out ^0 are Oider than Lord Kawdon, I have to
lament the probability of his being superseded in it,
fas * can scarce flatter myself that any of them will
be possessed of the knowledge requisite for conduct
ing operations in Carolina without having ever served
in that country, or be so competent to the command
there as officers of more local experience. I there
fore beg leave to submit to your Lordship the pro
priety of sending either Major-general Leslie or
Brigadier-ggeneral O'Hara to Charles-town, to take the
command of the troops in that district ; which in the
present critical situation of affairs in the Southern
Colonies, will certainly require an officer of ex
perience, and a perfect knowledge of the country.
hHad it been possible for your Lordship in your letter
3cA and which Col. Balfour of which he had of course repre-
represented also to L. C. before sented to him as he had done to
his Lordship left Wilmington and Lord Rawdon, but neither this
seems to be convinced they would nor his being in hourly expect a-
operate in making his Lordship tion of my dispatches from
give up his Virginia Plan and Charles town could divert him
return to Carolina the open state from his march into Virginia.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 495
ato me of the i oth ult. to have intimated the proba- ^ omits to
bility of your intention to form a junction with
General Phillips, I bshould certainly have endeavoured
to have stopped you, as I did then, as well as now, 8hould
consider such a move as "likely to be dangerous to
our interests in the Southern Colonies. And this, my
Lord, was not my only fear ; for I will be free to own,
dthat I was apprehensive for the corps under your
Lordships immediate orders, as well as for that
under Lord Rawdon : and I should not have thought
even the one under Major-general Phillips in safety at
Petersburg, at least for so long a time, had I not for
tunately on hearing of your being at Wilmington sent
another detachment from this army to reinforce him.6
I am persuaded your Lordship will have the good
ness to excuse my saying thus much ; but what is
done, cannot now be altered : and as your Lordship
has thought proper to make this decision, I shall
most gladly avail myself of your very able assistance
in carrying on such operations fas you shall judge v? *'^* to
best in Virginia, until we are compelled, as I fear
we must be, by the climate, to bring them more
northward. gYour Lordship will have been informed
of my ideas respecting operations to the northward
of the Carolinas,4 by my instructions to the different
General officers detached to the Chesapeak ; and the
substance of some conversations hwith General Phillips h s reads to
*on Hhat subject, which I committed to writing and
sent to him with my last dispatch, with directions to
communicate it to your Lordship.1 By these your
Lordship will observe that my first object has mever *v*romits
been na co-operation with your measures ; but your
Lordship's situation at different periods, made it neces
sary for me occasionally to vary my instructions
to those General officers according to circumstances.
4bO this is the first letter S if he has none refers Mm clearly
H C wrote to L. C. after his to those Gl Phillips had been
Lordship arrived in the Chek it directed to persue.
first leaves him to his own plans,
4g5 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
They were originally directed to assist your Lord
ship's operations in securing South and recovering
North Carolina ; their attention was afterwards
pointed to the saving South Carolina ; aand now your
Lordship may bpossibly think it necessary to employ
your force in recovering both or either of cthose pro
vinces, by either a direct or indirect operation.
With respect to the first, your Lordship must be dthe
sole judge ; with respect to the last, you have my
opinions, Vhich may however probably give way to
yours, should they differ from them, as they will
end of ^ 1^^ the advantage of being formed on the spot,
c^inoSt1 an(l up°n circumstances, which fat this distance I
tiusdistance cannot of course judge of : I shall therefore leave
them totally to your Lordship to decide upon, until
g Estops vou either hear from me or we meet.g
to I should be happy hto be able to ascertain the time
when our reinforcements may arrive ; but as I have
received no letters from the minister of a later date
than the yth of February, I am at a loss to guess
h°w soon we may expect them. *As I khad judged
the force I sent to the Chesapeak fully sufficient for
all operations there, even though we should extend
them to the Experiment (mentioned in the conver-
Sations referred to) *at the Western Head of Chesapeak
about Baltimore, &c. and your Lordship will per-
ceive mthat it was Generals Phillips and Arnold's opin-
i011? they were sufficient nfor even that on the Eastern ;
(which however might certainly require a °much
p^somite greater force,) it is possible pthat the additional corps
your Lordship has brought with you, may enable
you to return something to me for this post : but I
beg your Lordship will by no means consider this as
lhouidds a call ; for I qwould rather content myself with ever
so bare a defensive, until there was an appearance of
ooeratfon serious Operations against me, than cramp yours in
s jrvK end the ieast.s But (as I said in a former letter) I trust to
your Lordship's disinterestedness, that you will not
require from me more troops than* are absolutely
what
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 497
wanted4; and that you will recollect a circumstance,
which I am ever aware of in carrying on operations
in the Chesapeak, bwhich is, that they can be no
longer secure than whilst we are superior at sea.5*6'7
That we shall remain so, I most sincerely chope ; nor
have I any reason to suspect we shall not : but at all
events, I may at least expect timely information will
be sent me of the contrary being likely to happen.
In which case I hope your Lordship may be able
dto place your army in a secure situation during such ix italics to
' ' r 1, u -j. T_ inconveni-
temporary inconvenience ; lor should it become per- ence
manent I need not say what our prospects in this
country are likely to be. The Admiral being now
off the Hook, gives me an opportunity of communi
cating with him by letter ; and I have in the most
pressing terms requested his attention to the Chesa
peak, having repeatedly told him, that should the
eenemy possess it even for forty-eight hours your
Lordship's operations there may be exposed to most
imminent danger.8 General Robertson has also en
deavoured to impress him with the same ideas ; but
until I have an answer in writing I cannot be sure
that he will, as I do, consider the Chesapeak as
the first object. For he at present seems rather in
clined to lead his fleet to open the Port of Rhode-
Island, and to cruise to the northward of Nantucket,
for a fleet which he has heard is coming from Europe
with a small reinforcement to the French armament,
and which I am of opinion is bound to Rhode-Island.
I have, however, taken every occasion to represent
to him the necessity of hearty co-operation and com
munication ; if they fail, I am determined it shall
not be on my side.f
• have the
5aA superior at sea underlined. 7cA His Lordship knew this (signed) H.
6aA His Lordship had always full well, & therefore without a Clinton
considered this as the sine qua certainty of a Superior Fleet
non of operation in Chesapeak & should not have forced operations
seems to have forgot it at the there.
only Period when it was most 8aA the same opinions His
material for him to remember it. Lordship had often delivered.
63
4g8 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
The requisitions your Lordship has made in your
letter to me of the 2Oth instant, for horse accoutre
ments, &c. shall be supplied to the utmost extent
of our abilities ; and the inclosed extracts of letters
from aLeitenant-colonel Innes to his deputy at Charles-
Town, &c. will explain to your Lordship why they
are not more ample.
June i st. I have this moment received the Ad-
b s omits i mirai's answer to my letter ; and bl am to suppose
from it that he will do every thing in his power
to guard the Chesapeak. The copy is inclosed for
your Lordship's information. I heartily wish he may
continue in this disposition ; the necessity of which
I shall not fail to urge by every opportunity he may
give me of communicating with him.
As I shall frequently send one of my advice boats
to your Lordship with any information which may
deserve your0 attention, I hope to hear often from
you by the same conveyance. Lord Chewton has a
cypher, which was given him for that purpose ; but
should he not have joined you, we may make use of
Colonel Dundas's until he does.
I shall spare your Lordship and myself the pain
of saying much to you on the loss of our valuable
friend ; I feel it too sensibly for expression.
I nave tne honour to be, &c. dH. CLINTON.
looB: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, OBSERVATIONS [99 Ap'oi\ p 131.
With Clinton's Manuscript Notes.
Extract. — From Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Lord
Cornwallis, dated New York, May 29, 1781.
At end [Sent by Lieutenant-colonel McPherson, in
the Loyalist, June 15.]
This is two parts of No. 100 as shown in margins pp 493-497.
i OOF : CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 2 9 May 1 7 8 1 , Fr trans GERMAIN p 126.
One of two extracts under this heading Extrait d'une
lettre de Sir Henri Clinton, au lieutenant-general
comte Cornwallis, datee des 29 mai & 8 juin 1781.
This is three parts of No. 100 as shown in margins pp 493-496.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 499
loos: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 2 9 May 1781, Copy RI 19/91.
Same as No. 100 with variations shown in margins pp 493-498.
loov: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 29 May 1781, Extract PA 140/335.
One of two extracts under this endorsement Extracts
of Letters from Sir H. Clinton to IA Gen1. Earl Corn-
wallis, dated May 2gth & June 8th 1781. In Sir B>
Clinton's (N° 130.) of 9 June 1781.* (4.) 65. E
With this general heading Extracts of Letters from
Sir H. Clinton to Lieu1 General Earl Cornwallis.
Begins 1781. May 29th
This is three parts of No. 100 as shown in margins pp 493-496.
IOOE: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 29 May 1781, Extract PA 140/561.
One of twelve extracts under this endorsement
Extracts from the Correspondence between Sir Henry
Clinton and Earl Cornwallis on the Subject of Opera
tions in the Chesapeak & an Expedition against
Philadelphia, (n.) In Sir Henry Clinton's Letter
of the 13th July.b 90. b« 11.378
With this general heading Extracts from the Corres
pondence between Sir Henry Clinton and Earl Corn
wallis on the Subject of Operations in the Chesapeak,
and an Expedition against Philadelphia &ce.
Begins Extract. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Corn
wallis dated New York May 29th 1781.
This is three parts of No. 100 as shown in margins pp 493-497.
IOOR: CLINTON to CORNWALLIS, 29 May 1781, Extract HL No 65.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
One of two extracts under this endorsement Extracts
of Letters from Sir H^ Clinton to L* Gen1 Earl Corn
wallis dated May 29th & June 8th 1781 Transmitted
to Lord George Germain In Sir HF Clinton's of 9th
June 1781 (4.) E/ 12th July N° 65
With this general heading Extracts of Letters from
Sir H Clinton to Lieut Gen1 Earl Cornwallis.
Begins 1781. May 29th
This is three parts of No. 100 as shown in margins pp 493-496.
500 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
10 1 WASHINGTON TO SULLIVAN, 29 May 1781, Copy PA 140/361.
REPLY [105] p 171.
Endorsed Copy of an Intercepted Letter from Gen1
Washington to General Sullivan dated Head Quar
ters New Windsor 2Qth May 1781. In Sir HF
Clintons (N° 130) of 9 June 1781." (8.) 69. 3.
Head Qrs New Windsor May 29th 1781.
w begin* bDear Sir, I have been favoured with your two
Letters of the 2d & 1 7th of May ; the former reached
me at Weathersfield after I had met the Count de
Rochambeau at that place — from which time to the
present moment, my whole attention has been so
occupied by a variety of concerns, that I have been
hitherto involuntarily prevented from doing myself
the pleasure of writing to you.
°-^° Arguments were necessary to convince me of
the* great public utility, which would result from
the Success of the plan, you proposed laying before
Congress. — Had I been unapprised of the advan
tages which might be derived to our Cause from
a Successful Attempt, or even a powerful diversion
in that Quarter, the reasons you have offered, would
have carried irrefragable demonstration with them,
and induced me to be of your Opinion. But the "per
plexed, distressed & embarrassed State of our Affairs
on account of Supplies, (with which you are well
acquainted). — The languid efforts of the States to
procure men, and the insuperable difficulties in the
way of transportation, would 1 apprehend, have
s to rendered the scheme f(however devoutly to be wished
& desired) abortive in the first instance. And I must
inform you, that there is yet another obstacle, which
makes the Attempt you have Suggested ^absolutely
hs reads by impracticable Svith the means you propose, but which
imnofat I i(iare not commit to paper, for fear of the same Mis-
iobmmyitto fortune which has already happened to some of my
Letters.
ks begins kYou will have seen, before the receipt of this,
by my public Letter to Congress of the 27th Ins1
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 501
the result of the deliberations of the Count de
Kochambeau and myself at Weather sfield. That
plan, upon the maturest consideration, and after
combining all the present circumstances and future
prospects, appeared (though precarious) far the most
eligible of any we could possibly devise, whilst we
are inferior at Sea. The object was considered to be
of greater magnitude, and more within our reach than
any other. The weakness of the Garrison aof New a
York, the bCentrical position for drawing together Men
and Supplies, and the Spur, which an Attempt against
that place, would give to every exertion, were among
the reasons which prompted to that undertaking, and
cwhich promised the fairest prospect of Success, unless which***
the Enemy should recall a considerable part of their
force from the Southward. And even in this case,
the same Measure which might produce disappoint
ment in one quarter, would certainly in the Event
afford the dgreatest relief in another.6
While an Opportunity presents itself of striking
the Enemy a fatal blow — I will persuade myself,
fthe concurring exertions of Congress, of the several
States immediately concerned, and of every individual that
in them, who is well affected to our cause, will be
united in yielding every possible aid gon the occasion.
At this crisis, while I rejoice at the Appointment of
the Minister of Finance, I have sincerely to regret,
that the Ministers of the other departments have not
also been appointed especially a Minister of war. At
the same time I am happy to learn, hthe mode of pro- lh*Tse
motion is on the point of being finally established.
With the highest Sentiments of regard1 & Esteem I i£endsl*m
am Dear Sir Yr Obed* Serv*
Honble Gen1 Sullivan (Signed) G° WASHINGTON*
TOIB : WASHINGTON to SULLIVAN, 29 May 1781, REPLY [105] p 171.
Extract of an intercepted Letter from General
Washington to General Sullivan, dated New Windsor,
29th May, 1781.
This extract from No. 101 is shown in margins pp 500-501.
502 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
i OIF: WASHINGTON to SULLIVAN, 29 May, Fr trans GERMAIN^ 144.
Copie d'une lettre intercepted du general Washington,
au general Sullivan, datee du Nouveau- Windsor, le
29 mai 1781.
Same as No. 101 with variations shown in margins pp 500-501.
IQIS: WASHINGTON to SULLIVAN, 29 May 1781, 8 GW 58.
This extract from No. 101 is shown in margins pp 500-501.
a see ii. 374
b 8 begins
c F begins
d B begins
Dear Lund,
e B ends
102 WASHINGTON TO LUND WASHINGTON, Copy PA 140/373.
REPLY [io6]_p 171.
Endorsed Copy of an intercepted Letter from General
Washington to Mr Lund Washington dated New
Windsor 3 Ist May 1781. In Sir H^ Clinton's (N° 1 30)
of 9 June 1781.* (n.) 72. 6.
bCopy. New Windsor 3ist May 1781.
cDear Lund, I returned last Saturday from a Con
ference with the Count de Rochambeau at Weathers-
field, on Connecticut River, and found your Letter of
the 9th Instant ; and the last Post brought me another
of the 1 6th.
We have heard nothing yet of the Detachment
(consisting of about 2000 Men) which left New York
the 13th Instant, nor do we know whether those
Troops were bound for Virginia, North or South
Carolina, or elsewhere. dA Report prevails, and is
believed by some, that the Enemy are about to quit
New York altogether, but I shall withhold my Opinion
of the Matter yet a little longer — If such an Event
should take Place it will be an Evidence in my Mind
that they expect Matters are drawing to a Conclusion
and that they have a Mind to get as fast hold on the
Southern States as possible.6
I have already given you my Opinion (in some
late Letters) with respect to my moveable Property —
after removing the most valuable, and least bulky
Articles the rest, with the Buildings, must take their
Chance. — I am prepared for the worst that can
happen to them, to hear therefore of their being
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 503
plundered, or burnt, will be no Surprise to me. — In
case a Body of Troops should come into that Part of
the Country (belonging to the Enemy) public, as
well as private Considerations, require that Horses
and Stock of all kinds should be driven out of their
Reach.
I am Dear Lund, Your Affectionate Servant
Signed, G° WASHINGTON.*
I02B: WASHINGTON to LUND WASHINGTON, REPLY [106] p 171.
From General Washington to Mr. Lund Washington,
3ist May, 1781.
This extract from No. 102 is shown in margin p 502.
I02F: WASHINGTON to L. WASHINGTON, Fr trans GERMAIN^) 150.
Copie d'une lettre intercepted, du general Washing
ton, datee du Nouveau- Windsor, le 31 mai 1781.
The same letter as No. 102.
IO2S : WASHINGTON to L. WASHINGTON, 31 May 1 781, Copy HL No 72.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of an intercepted Letter from General
Washington to Mr. Lund Washington dated New
Windsor 3ist May 1781. Transmitted to Ld Geo:
Germain in Sir H> Clinton's of Qth June 1781 (u)
E/ 12th July N° 72.
The same letter as No. 102.
103 WASHINGTON TO LA FAYETTE, Copy PA 140/381.
REPLY [107]^? 171.
Endorsed Copy of an intercepted Letter from General
Washington to The Marquis de la Fayette dated New
Windsor 3 1 st May 1781. In Sir H> Clinton's (N° 1 30)
of 9 June 1781.* (13.) 74. 8.
bHead Quarters °New Windsor 3ist May 1781.
dMy Dear Marquis el have received your favors of
the 4th 8th 17th and i8th Instants, your conduct upon
every occasion meets my approbation, but in none
more fthan gyour refusal to hold a correspondence with
Arnold. By an account which I have hjust received
504 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
from New York, Gen1 aKobinson goes to Succeed
General Phillips. You may have something to
apprehend from his age and experience but not much
isrunson from his activity.b
c BS read In a letter which I wrote to Baron "Stuben on the
1 6th instant, I desired him to inform you, as I did not
know at that time where you might be, that I had
good reason to believe a detachment of between 1500
d Bread* or d& 2OOO Men had sailed from .New York a few days
e B italics to before. I now have it confirmed, and el think you
fs«i*rrt* may either look for them in fChesapeak or further
{Southward.
Your determination to avoid an engagement with
your present force, is certainly judicious. I hope the
gs inserts Peusylvanians have began their March before this,g
but I have no information of it. General Wayne has
been pressed both by Congress and the Board of
War, to make as much expedition as possible and
h B omits to extraordinary powers are given Ho him to enable him
tJ omits to J r . .
hi™ to procure provisions.1
iSencfelam, ir *- v. , . ,. - , ^ , , TT • i i ,
with very Upon your ^intimation that Colonel Vose wished to
sincere re- * , ,T T , -i /^ n m
faBdri return to the Northward, I ordered Col1 1 upper to
information relieve him, and he had sat out before your Letter of
th reac^e(^ me-1
I am with very sincere regard My dear Marquis Yr
ton " most Obed11 and hble Serv1
B continues /_.. -,\ X-M -T-TT
onP 506 1 1? (Signed) G° WASHINGTON.
m vends Majr Gen1 Marquis de la Fayette.m
io3B: WASHINGTON to LA FAYETTE, 31 May, REPLY [107] p 171.
Copy of an intercepted Letter from General Wash
ington to the Marquis De la Fayette, dated Head
Quarters, New Windsor, 3ist May, 1781.
Same as No. 103 with variations slioiun in margins pp 503-504.
IO3F: WASHINGTON to LA FAYETTE, Fr trans GERMAIN^ 153-
Copie d'une lettre intercepted du general Washington
au Marquis de la Fayette, datee du quartier-general
au Nouveau- Windsor le 31 mai 1781.
Same as -ZVo. 103 with variations shown in margins pp 503-504.
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE 505
1038: WASHINGTON to LA FAYETTE, 31 May 1781, 8 GW 60.
This extrac from No. 103 is shown in margins pp 503-504.
I03V: WASHINGTON to LA FAYETTE, 31 May 1781, Copy HL NO 74.
Laid on the table of the House of Lords, 18 February 1782.
Endorsed Copy of an intercepted Letter from General
Washington to the Marquis cie la Fayette dated New
Windsor 3ist May 1781. Transmitted to Ld Geo:
Germain In Sir H> Clinton's of 9th June 1781 (13)
R/ 12th July N° 74.
Same as No. 103 with variations shown in margins pp 503-504.
104 WASHINGTON TO LA F1YETTE, Copy PA 140/385.
llEPLY [lo8]j» lyi.
Endorsed Private. Copy of an intercepted Letter
From General Washington to The Marquis de la
Fayette dated New Windsor 3ist May 1781. In Sir
B> Clinton's (N° 130) of 9th June 1781.* (14.) 75. 9.
Private. New Windsor, May 3ist 1781.
bMy dear Marq8., I have just returned from Wea-
thersfield at which I expected to have met the Count
de Rochambeau & Count de Barras, but the British
fleet having made its appearance off Block Island,
the Admiral did not think it prudent to leave New
port. — Count Rochambeau was only attended by
Chevr Chattellux — Generals Knox and Duportail
were with me.
Upon a full consideration of our Affairs in every
point of View — An Attempt upon New York with its
present Garrison (which by estimation is reduced to
4,500, Regular Troops and about "3,000 irregulars)
was deemed preferable to a Southern Operation as we
had not the Command of the Water — The reasons
which induced this determination were, the danger to
be apprehended from the approaching Heats — the in
evitable dissipation & loss of Men by so long a March
— and the difficulty of transportation — but above all,
it was thought that we had a tolerable prospect of
expelling the Enemy or obliging them to withdraw
64
5o6 CLINTON-CORNWALLIS CONTROVERSY
part of their force from the Southward, which last
would give the most effectual relief to those States. —
The French Troops are to March this way as soon as
certain circumstances will admit, leaving about 200
Men at Providence with the heavy Stores and 500
Militia upon Rhode Island to secure the Works.
I am endeavouring to prevail upon the States to fill
up their Battalions for the Campaign ; if they cannot
do it upon better terms, and to send in ample and
regular Supplies of Provision. Thus you perceive it
will be some time before our plan can be ripe for
execution, and that a failure on our part in Men and
Supplies may defeat it ; but I am in hopes that the
States in this quarter will exert themselves to attain
what has long been a favorite and is an important
object to them.
&We have rumours, but I cannot say they are well
24 founded, that the Enemy are about to quit New York
altogether. — Should they do this we must follow
them of necessity, bas they can have no other view
than endeavouring to Seize and secure the Southern
States, if not to hold them finally, to make them the
means °f an advantageous negociation of Peace.0
gtoiash~ I take it for granted that your last dispatches in
form you fully of European Affairs and that you can
judge from them of the probability of such an event
as I have mentioned taking place. As you have no
Cypher by which I can write to you in Safety, and
my letters have been frequently intercepted of late I
restrain myself from mentioning many matters I wish
to communicate to you.
I shall advise you every now and then of the pro
gress of our preparations. It would be unnecessary
for you to be here at present, and I am sure you
would not wish to leave your charge while you are so
near an Enemy, or untill you could deliver them up
to General Greene, or to another Officer capable of
exercising the Command which you are in. dYou will
always remember My dear Marquis that your return
CHRONOLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE
507
to this Army depends upon your own choice. And
that I am with every Sentiment of Esteem regd &
Affectn
Yr most Obed. aServ. (Signed) G°: WASHINGTON.
P.S. My public letter contains an Answer to your
Several favours. bWe have just heard from New
York that Gen1. Robinson is gone to Supply the place
Of Philips.0
Majr Gen1 The Marq8 de la Fayette.
1046: WASHINGTON to LA FAYETTE, 3 i May, REPLY [108] p 171.
As a continuation of No. 1046: and headed [Private.]
This extract from No. 104 is sJiown in margin p 506.
io4F: WASHINGTON to LA FAYETTE, Fr trans GERMAIN j9 155.
Copie d'une lettre intercepted du general Washing
ton au Marquis de la Fayette, datee du Nouveau-
Windsor le 31 mai. (Privee).
Same as No. 104 with variations shown in margins pp 505-50?.
omits
o Vends
EMENDATIONS AND QUERIES.
[Sir Henry Clinton's Manuscript notes, often written hurriedly, with
interlineations, erasures and repetitions, many being in faded inlc or
pencil, ivere deciphered with difficulty for literatim ' copy.'l
vol. i. page 7 note 8 line 34 for proposed read promised.
but I should read that I should.
Bayernin read Bay seeing,
enable none read enable him.
French Town read Trent Town,
but most read and most.
blank read southern,
he there read for these,
fruit read merit,
distraction read destruction.
33 ,
14
4
M
69 ,
5
2
103 ,
i
I
103 ,
2
6
107 ,
2
3
251 n
I
3
280 „
7
4
321 ,
4
21
„
479 «
5 >
> 2
5>
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